The Necromancer's Betrayal (The Final Formula Series, Book 2.5) by Becca Andre Read Free Book Online

deny his or her magic.”
    She gripped the wheel. “It’s possible, but it’s painful. So painful.” She cleared her throat. “Then there’s the threat of insanity.”
    “Necros are known for crazy.”
    She squeezed the wheel harder. He didn’t understand, and even if he did, he had no need to treat the topic with respect. Her actions last night had probably cemented any hatred he harbored for her kind. Yet for some reason, she didn’t want him to hate her.
    “It’s true. Many do go insane. I’m not sure why some do, but I do know that denying your gift is the quickest route.” She stopped to take a breath. “My mother was clinically insane before her thirtieth birthday.”
    “She was institutionalized?” His tone had softened, but she didn’t look over.
    “Have you ever been in a sanitarium? That’s the last place you want to put a mentally unstable necromancer. The ghosts in that place.” She shivered. “Then there’s the morgue.”
    He grunted.
    She made herself release the wheel. “I don’t know why I told you that.” She rubbed her face. “Just a side effect of some troubling dreams, I guess.”
    “What kind of dreams?” There was an intensity in his tone that made her glance over. He was watching her again with that unblinking focus.
    “I have this recurring dream. It’s always the same. It’s dark, except for this dim red glow. And a woman. I know it’s the same woman, even though I never see her face. She tells me stories about my family’s past, or so she claims. My mother and grandmother. Sometimes, even further back.” She shook her head, suddenly self-conscious. “It sounds so stupid saying this out loud. I guess that’s why I’ve never told anyone.”
    “And you had such a dream last night?” His interest surprised her.
    “Last night was different. Last night we were interrupted by… a nightmare.”
    “A nightmare?”
    “A monster.” She shivered. “Never mind. The whole dream thing has left me in a funk.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    After his grumpy mood, she didn’t expect concern. “It was just a dream.” And now he probably thought she was nuts for going on about it. She dropped the car into drive and carefully drove through the ruts to the main road.
    “Why don’t you want your grandmother to know your true strength?” James asked after they had ridden in silence for a few miles.
    “She thinks I’m the one to bring the Family back to prominence. She probably wants me to challenge the Deacon for his seat.”
    “The Deacon of Cincinnati?” James asked.
    “He lives in Cincinnati. He’s actually over much of the Midwest.”
    Another pause. “Do you have the power to challenge him?”
    “I’ve never met him. But I kicked his son’s ass once, and rumor has it that they’re much alike.”
    James fell silent, and Elysia decided to leave it at that. He had brought them pretty far last night, curious considering he had no idea where Grams lived. They were only twenty minutes away. She was almost home.
     
    Elysia shut off the engine and stared at the three-story funeral home at the end of the cul-de-sac. In its day, the large stone house had been a mansion. Built over a century ago, the building had been the home of her first ancestor to settle in the area. A symbol of her family’s wealth and power. Now it was simply another old building falling into disrepair. It needed a new roof, and the trim and soffits could use a fresh coat of paint. Even so, it was a welcome sight, though foreboding at the same time. Elysia took a deep breath and released it.
    “Have you seen your grandmother since you left?” James asked.
    “Yes. I didn’t leave on bad terms, exactly. But we had our differences.” That was putting it mildly, but he didn’t need to hear about all that. “At first, she gave me my space, probably thinking I’d get lonely and come home. But lately, she’s been calling more and more, trying to talk me into returning.”
    “Do you?”
    “I go home