The Final Omen: Second Sight Book Four by Heather Topham Wood Read Free Book Online Page A

corrected. He pointed to the diamond on Julie’s ring finger. “I guess belated congratulations are in order.”
    Julie smiled tightly. “Although there’s no love lost between Kate and my fiancé, she still has dutifully been dragged to bridal appointment after bridal appointment. She has to be my maid of honor and once the two of you get your shit together, I’ll be hers.” Julie’s voice caught and she looked on the verge of dissolving back into tears. Jared was about to comfort her again when his breath caught.
    Kate’s mom was running through the door with an indiscernible expression on her face. Breathlessly, she froze in front of them. “Katie’s awake.”

Chapter Seven
    When Kate first woke up, it felt like she was seeing everything underwater. She could make out figures, but they were distorted in front of her. She recognized features: her mom’s short bob, Jared’s ebony hair, her father’s blue eyes, but Kate couldn’t put them all together. Voices called to her, saying her name, firing questions. She answered in her head, but couldn’t form the words to give them what they wanted. The question that stuck out the most was: “Who did this? Who hurt you, Kate?”
    The question rocked her to the core because she couldn’t answer. The man who attacked her wore a mask fashioned out of a burlap sack and clothing that didn’t give her a clear indication of his body type. The worst part was the question meant they didn’t catch him. He was still on the loose and still a threat to her safety.
    Instead of answers, she was able to moan a few words as she drifted in and out of consciousness. She tried to stay awake, tried to avoid succumbing to a dreamless sleep once again, but she felt herself slipping. It made her unsure of her survival. Was she still dying?
    If it weren’t for her survival instincts, she would’ve allowed herself to fade—because her body was in agony. She felt like a girl on fire, burning up from the inside out. As she lay paralyzed in her own personal hell, she relived her attack and imagined she felt the stabbing pain that pierced her skin as the maniac drove the knife into her again and again. What awaited her when she regained complete control of her senses?
    At the edges of the anguished feelings that threatened to consume her was something else. A desperate urge to keep fighting, to battle for the people she loved. When she awoke, the war for her survival would rage on, but she’d have the ones she loved by her side.
    Her mother’s pleas were what came first—her beautiful voice begging for Kate to come back and never leave again. Her mom told Kate in an urgent whisper that she’d been almost snatched away permanently too many times and a parent shouldn’t outlive a child—it went against the laws of nature.
    After what felt like an eternity, she was able to focus on her mother’s face. She had worry lines etched into her forehead and a grimace as she met Kate’s gaze.
    Darlene’s features relaxed, as she must’ve realized recognition was growing in Kate’s eyes.
    “Katie,” her mom said sharply. She looked at the two figures standing behind her and addressed them, “I think she’s finally coming to.”
    Her father cut a striking figure as he stood at the base of the bed. He was out of his usual accountant uniform of a suit and tie, and had on a pair of jeans and a polo shirt.
    Declan was standing nearby, shifting uncertainly from side to side. His chocolate eyes appeared tired, but he managed a smile when Kate looked his way. Her dad was giving her a reassuring smile while Declan was giving her the thumbs up signal.
    Her head rolled around and her eyes widened while looking at her surroundings. She was supine on a hospital bed, hooked up to a plethora of machines that were beeping and clicking, monitoring her broken body. She was scared to look down at her form, to see what was left of her after the attack. A choked sob escaped as she felt the panic from her