Flamebound by Tessa Adams Read Free Book Online

that thought foremost in my head, I text Declan at five o’clock, as I’m walking out the front door of Beanz—just a quick note to tell him I’m going to spend the night at my own house tonight. I know it won’t go over well, but I want to talk to Lily about Shelby. She has different magic than mine, and while she’s no better at finding lost people than I am, she reads a mean tarot. Maybe, if she concentrates, she’ll pick something up that can help Nate.
    I drive the few short blocks to my house, praying the whole way that Lily will be home—and alone. I know it’s not her boyfriend, Brandon’s, fault that his brother is a crazed killer, but the truth is being around him now makes me really, really uncomfortable. It’s another reason I’ve been staying with Declan since I got out of the hospital. Well, that and the fact that it’s not exactly easy to convince him to let me out of his sight for longer than I spend at Beanz. And most days, even that is pushing it. I’ve grown used to looking up from my spot in the kitchen to see him ordering coffee or lounging at a table, a book in his hands.
    I pull onto my street and breathe a sigh of relief as I spot Lily’s car in the driveway, by itself. Brandon’s car is nowhere to be seen. Thank the goddess.
    I’m still reveling in my good fortune when I walk in the front door and find my best friend sitting on the couch, drinking a martini from an extra-large margarita glass and painting her toenails cyanide green. Neither is a good sign.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” I demand, dropping my bag by the door and approaching her cautiously. When she’s in this mood, there’s no guarantee that she won’t bite.
    â€œNothing. Why?” She reaches for the martini, takes a huge gulp of it, then goes back to painting her toes. All without once looking at me.
    â€œTry telling that to someone who actually believes it.” I hold up the bag of chocolate-covered potato chips resting next to her on the couch. “We both know these only come out in times of extreme trauma. As does the nail polish. So spill.”
    She blows out a breath, shrugs. “Brandon and I broke up.”
    I ignore the spurt of relief that shoots through me. Now isn’t the time for a happy dance, especially when I get my first real glimpse of Lily’s face and realize her eyes are rid-rimmed and swollen.
    â€œWhat happened?” I ask after it becomes obvious that no details will be forthcoming.
    She looks at me in disbelief. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe it’s the fact that his nut-job brother tried to kill my best friend?”
    â€œYeah, but Brandon had nothing to do with that.” Why am I defending him? Brandon’s given me the creeps for a while now and I should be thrilled he’s out of Lily’s life. And I am. I really am . . . only I hate seeing her look so sad.
    â€œMaybe not, but he insists on defending Kyle. He keeps saying things like it must have been a spell, that Kyle would never do something like that without a good reason.”
    My skin crawls. “He thinks there’s a good reason that Kyle raped, tortured and murdered four women?”
    â€œThat’s what I said. And then—” Her voice breaks. She grabs the martini and drains it.
    â€œAnd then?”
    â€œHe said the Council must have some reason for wanting you dead. That maybe Kyle was only doing what had to be done. That’s when I gave the sick fucking bastard the boot.”
    The boot? Knowing Lily the way I do, I’m a little surprised I didn’t get a call asking me to help her bury a body. “I’m sorry,” I tell her. “I know how much you cared about him.”
    â€œNo,
I’m
sorry,” she answers. “I’m sorry that I ever brought them into our lives. I can’t believe I did that to you.”
    â€œThat’s ridiculous. Kyle was going to get to