Conjure by Lea Nolan Read Free Book Online Page A

“We have to get back to the ruins to see what we found.”
    “For real? After what happened yesterday, I figured you’d want a break.” I return the ointment and other medical supplies to Dad’s first-aid kit. “There’s no rush. The ruins are in the middle of nowhere. No one’s going to steal it.”
    He shakes his head. “I’m not leaving it out there.”
    “Jack, the box isn’t safe. It could blow up again.” I bring the kit to the kitchen and fill a large glass of water to keep him hydrated.
    “There’s no way it’ll explode again. Eighteenth-century gun powder only gives you a one-time blow.”
    I hand him the water. He’s the history genius, but something still bugs me. “Yeah, but I don’t remember smelling gun powder, do you?” There was that momentary putrid scent, but Jack was probably too spazzed out to notice before it disappeared.
    His eyes shift upward as if tracing his memory. “I’m sure I did. At least I think I did. But even if I can’t remember, it’s probably because I was busy freaking about blowing my hand off.” He tips the glass to his lips and downs it in one long gulp.
    “Which is why we shouldn’t chance it again.” I sigh. “Your hand’s already hurt.”
    He tilts his chin. “I’m fine, Emma. Besides, we have to go back. Maggie said she’d meet us this morning.”
    Ugh, Maggie. The hand-holding, sort-of girlfriend with the overprotective grandmother. I bite my bottom lip. “Jack, don’t you think she’s a little weird? I mean, you hardly know her, but you two are all over each other.”
    “Wow, jealous much?” He arches his eyebrow.
    I scoff. “Of course not. Don’t be ridiculous.”
    He winks. “Sure. It couldn’t have anything to do with the fact you’ve basically thrown yourself at Cooper and he hasn’t noticed, yet I can get a girlfriend without even trying.”
    I open, then close, my mouth. Has it been that obvious? Does Cooper know, too? I was sure I’d done a good job of covering. If we were a normal brother and sister, I could lie to him and deny it, and maybe be convincing, but our stupid twin sense ruins everything.
    I spit out the only response that comes to mind. “You’re a jerk.”
    He laughs. “Awesome comeback.”
    The doorbell rings, and he springs from the couch to get it, awkwardly reaching across his body with his good hand to open the door.
    Cooper smiles when he sees Jack. His pale yellow T-shirt turns his eyes royal blue today. “Hey, bro!” He slaps Jack’s shoulder. “It’s good to see you up and about. After all that crying, I was afraid you might not make it through the night.”
    Jack holds up his bandaged hand. “Yeah, well, this hurts like a mother, so thanks for the sympathy.”
    Cooper chuckles. “No problem. Seriously, I was worried, though.” He nods in my direction and smiles. “Hey, Emma.”
    I exhale in relief. He’s acting totally normal. There’s no way he knows. Plus there’s no way he would have hugged me last night if he suspected anything. As much as that hug meant to me, I know it was only a mutual-support thing for him, a gesture of thanks for sharing the weirdest day ever.
    Jack steps in front of him to slip into his flip-flops and conveniently breaks our eye contact. “No worries. I’ll live. We’re headed back to the ruins. You coming?” He jams his baseball cap onto his head.
    Cooper cranes his neck around Jack. “Really?” he asks me.
    I push off the couch and walk over to them, wiggle my still bandaged foot into a flip-flop, and snatch my messenger bag off the floor. The cut has formed a nice scab and is nearly healed, but I still want to keep it covered. “He doesn’t want to keep his girlfriend waiting.”
    Cooper nods. “Hmm, I see.”
    Maggie’s already there when we arrive, sitting on one of the ruins with her sea-grass hat. Her long black hair is twisted into thick spirals that drape down her shoulders.
    She hops off the ruin wall and sprints to Jack. “You’ve had