High Voltage by Angelique Voisen Read Free Book Online Page B

were careful about it.
    Heath wanted to bring up his
suspicions about the shirt, but Havoc’s penetrating gaze made him think the
better of it. Havoc didn’t look like a man in his forties. He had the coiled,
hard muscles and the power and strength of a man half his age, but like always,
the wisdom in his eyes betrayed the depth of his experiences.
    “You know why I decided to pick you
up all those years ago, Heath?”
    “Yeah. Because I had the potential to become an Elementalist.”
    “You having the talent is one thing,” Havoc said. “You being a shifter is another.”
    “Everyone knows you hate shifters.”
    “And do you know why?”
    “Should I?” Heath was aware he was
treading on dangerous ground.
    He knew the old man had affection
for him like any grandfather would to his grandson, but he also knew provoking
Havoc was as close to a stupid decision as any. To him, Havoc had always stood
behind everyone like an unyielding, shadowy guardian. Havoc let his boys run
their own shows and pull their weight on jobs, but he was there when they
needed him.
    Everyone in their unlikely family
knew Havoc didn’t and couldn’t deal with shifters because of something that
happened in his past during his time as a member of the Lyon City magical
council. Heath supposed the only shifters Havoc tolerated were him and
recently, Levi, Blaze’s bear shifter mate.
    Thankfully, Havoc changed the
topic.
    “We’re more alike than you think,
Heath,” Havoc said eventually, tiredly. For the first time, Heath noticed the
weary lines around his eyes. He didn’t speak. Heath only listened. “We’re
impassioned individuals. Passion drives us, but it may also be the death of
us.”
    “I don’t get it. Are you saying I
should give Volt a chance?” Heath asked.
    He wasn’t certain how the old man
knew he’d spent the night with Volt. Heath supposed it was because Havoc always
kept track of every member of his family.
    “I’m saying make sure you don’t
regret your decisions, but it’s your decision all the same. Volt’s always been
the most volatile of all my adopted sons and the most skilled at hiding his
emotions and his past.”
    “Emotions? Past?” Heath scoffed.
    Havoc sighed. “I suppose this old
man has to play matchmaker again. Volt has wanted you for as long as you’ve
wanted him, Heath, but his guilt and his past always kept him from acting. So
why don’t the two of you stop being brats and start acting like two mature and
consenting adults?”
    “No fucking way. Volt’s probably
slept his way through most of the city’s supernatural community and he’s damn
secretive about his past.” Heath frowned at the implication of Havoc’s words.
He had found it odd Blaze’s mate just happened to seek out their office during
a time when Blaze was displaying suicidal tendencies after a botched accident
involving some ghouls. “What do you mean play matchmaker again? Are you talking
about Blaze and Levi? Did you send the bear shifter to Blaze because you knew
he’d be the one to save Blaze from himself after the fire?”
    Havoc smiled, showing his
impossibly white teeth. “We’re not talking about Blaze and Levi, Heath.”
    Heath let out a sound of
frustration. Damn. Now he remembered why he didn’t always like spending too
much time with the old man. Havoc always had the ability to dig his way through
and eventually get under anyone’s skin.
    “Now let’s talk about this demon
you two are having trouble with. The city council has kindly informed me it
must be banished back to the Otherside or else—” Havoc was abruptly cut off by
the sudden sting and crackle of electricity on the sidewalk.
    “Meddling old fucker,” Volt hissed,
taking a threatening step toward them. “Get out of Havoc’s car this instant,
Heath.”
    “Why, Volt. Couldn’t an old man
have a nice chat with his adopted grandson?” Havoc asked mildly, appearing
unaffected by Volt’s tantrum.
    “Didn’t you hear me,