Neon Spark (Dark Magic Enforcer Book 5) by Al K. Line Read Free Book Online Page B

sure not to walk much, and that maybe they should eat in one of the many restaurants in the hotel. Dancer agreed, hobbling about and moaning with the pain I knew damn well was an act.
    Ten minutes later they were gone. Grandma took her shopping to her own room, leaving Kate and I alone.
    "You need to be careful, Faz, she sounds so dangerous." Kate looked concerned, she also looked tired.
    "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. This place is way too weird, though. What a morning."
    "It's the jet lag and the fact you were in prison a few days ago. Think what you've been through since you got out. All that fighting, all the magic. The giant. Rikka. It's a wonder you're able to stand."
    She was right. I was fighting it all, forcing myself to keep going, but I was dog-tired and my body was exhausted. I couldn't sleep, though, was past the point of being weary. My soul ached. My heart felt like it was smashed to pieces.
    Rikka's deception was too big for me to even think about coherently. I pushed it away, so it festered and gnawed at my insides. I simply didn't know how to handle it, how to cope with the fact he'd done what he did. A man I loved and he turned out to be so cruel, callous and cold. He'd made me, I was a thing he'd steered in one direction for his own purpose.
    He knew the death of my family would spark a deep anger and a quest for violence inside of me. Rikka saw the potential in me and he helped it grow and mature so he'd have what, a simpering goon? That's all I'd been to him, a goon to do his bidding. And for half a century he'd had a backup plan in case he needed to put me in my place. If I got too powerful and out-of-control he could pull the plug on me, play his games and carry on like nothing had happened.
    It was too much of a betrayal to believe, that all this time I'd been duped. I couldn't process it. I needed a rest, a long one, time away from it all. All of that would have to wait, though, as I had one last thing to do and it didn't look like it would be easy. Mere days ago I'd died at the hands of a giant after using more magic than I was capable of controlling and it did nothing to help me.
    That wasn't it, however, not why I felt so lost and ill-at-ease with my own mind and body. It was everything. I wanted peace, I wanted it to all be over. No more hurt, no more killing, no more death or betrayal. No more magic.
    I'd had enough of it all.
    "Faz? Faz!" Kate shook me and I came out of my funk. I don't know how long she'd been talking but I was lost to my thoughts, the world and her fading away as I brooded. Hell, a few minutes ago I'd had bloody tusks. I wanted it all to go away—this magic brought me nothing but pain.
    I smiled at the love of my life, knowing I was just on a downer. Who was I kidding? Look what magic had brought me. It gave me Kate, and Grandma, even Dancer. It gave me Intus, it gave me so many weird and wonderful things.
    I was an addict and I'd never give it up. It defined me, and whatever happened in my life I would always return to its painful, cruel, utterly blissful embrace.
    "I'm okay, just feeling sorry for myself. Look, everyone else is off out, how about we try the jacuzzi?" I nodded toward the oversized bathroom with the gaudy gold taps and the inviting tub.
    Kate smiled. "I'll lock the door. We don't want Grandma barging in on us."
    We spent an amazing hour enjoying each other's company. Just us, the water, and the love.
    It was the last peace I would have in Japan.

 
     
     
     
    To the Council
    Grandma came to the suite not long after we were dressed and respectable, as though she had some kind of sex radar and knew when the coast was clear—which she probably did. She gave us both a wink and I swear she would have nudged us if I hadn't got straight down to business.
    "Okay, you need to go see the Council to tell them about the zombies. You can get the address from Mitsu."
    "I don't like those people," moaned Grandma.
    "Don't be so racist," I said, surprised.
    "You