Dark Tremor (Mated by Magic #2) by Stella Marie Alden, Chantel Seabrook Read Free Book Online Page B

box back under the desk.
    Jelly’s panicked voice scratched through the radio. “Terra. You there?”
    With a groan, Terra hobbled from the couch and spoke into the microphone, “We’re here.”
    “Thank God. We’ve got the fire department…police…going to start…digging.”
    There was a short silence, then a familiar male voice crackled across the frequency. “Jace, you okay down there, buddy?”
    Josh. He should have known his brother would take the first flight there.
    Jace smiled and grasped the microphone’s stand. “All good. But the sooner you get me out of here the better.”
    “Working...on it.”
    A horrible thought ran through his head. “Please tell me mom and dad aren’t with you.”
    Josh laughed. “Nope, just…me and…Nicole. But–” The transmission stopped, then nothing but white noise.
    Terra smacked the top of the radio. “Shit.”
    The ground vibrated above them and a few pieces of the ceiling dropped onto their heads. Pumpkin scooted across the floor and crouched under the table.
    “Sounds like they’re starting to dig.” Jace glanced up, trying not to think of the tons of dirt over their heads. He sat. Too much booze and sudden claustrophobia. Bad mix.
    “I feel like crap.” Terra took the jug of water from him and took a long swig. She pulled up a chair, and sat down next to him. “That was your brother?”
    She handed the jug back.
    “One of them.” When his hand steadied, he took a sip.
    “How many do you have?”
    “Two. And a sister. Josh is the oldest, next is Jack, then Kathy, and last but not least, your one and only.”
    “Must have been nice…” She picked up a small framed photo of her mom and ran her finger along the crack in the glass, a small frown playing on her lips. “Having such a big family.”
    “Most of the time.” He leaned back and studied her. He couldn’t imagine not having his family around. How lonely it would be.
    A heavy thud vibrated through the structure and the sickening crunching of glass sent a shiver down Jace’s spine.
    Terra flinched and set the photo back on the table.
    Another thud and a growing spider web of cracks grew wide across the large pane of glass.
    “Mother fucking hell,” Jace spit out. “The window’s going to give out.”
    “Oh my God.” Her face paled as she watched, eyes wide.
    A heavy thump above and the veins grew another few inches.
    “Move,” Jace ordered, jumping from his chair.
    There was an ear-piercing screech and the window shattered. He barely had time to pull Terra against the back wall before pieces of glass mixed with dirt and rocks tumbled through the window.
    “Pumpkin,” Terra screamed.
    The stupid cat hissed when Jace reached for it, claws out. Despite its protests, Jace held tight, not letting it get away.
    The ceiling above them groaned and creaked, then slowly split open, causing more dirt to fill the space. Jace wrapped an arm around Terra’s waist when the structure shifted and she lost her balance.
    “You need to use your powers.” The dirt was already up to his thighs and falling fast.
    “But the people above–”
    “In one second, we’re going to be completely buried. Do you have enough power?”
    She gave a small nod, then closed her eyes and dug her hands into the dirt, now up to her chest. The crack in the ceiling opened wider.
    “Do it,” he ordered, clearing away dirt so they could breathe.
    The ground trembled, and so did Terra. Energy vibrated off her in a strange blue glow, growing in intensity. His body zipped and zapped along with hers, pulsating. As she drew more power from the earth, their connection grew stronger. He moaned.
    If he wasn’t about to die, he would’ve been completely turned on. Holy hell the woman was potent.
    The blast that suddenly poured from her small body cut through the earth above, opened a five-foot crevice, and exposed the blessed sky above. Dirt and stones fell like rain, and he used his body to shield her. The damn cat squirmed