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

wanted to tell him he was wrong. He didn’t know these people like she did. But she didn’t want to get into that argument here. “All right. Come on. Let’s go see Grams.” She turned and headed up the stairs.
    James cleared his throat as he fell in step beside her.
    She glanced over at him. “That was a command, wasn’t it?”
    “Yes.”
    “Damn, I need to work on that.”
    “Depends on the command.”
    Her cheeks heated, but she forced herself to stop at the top of the steps and face him. “I owe you an apology. It was wrong to force you to kiss me. I was so out of it and…”
    His dark brows rose when she stopped.
    “Never mind. I’m sorry.” It felt like her cheeks had caught fire. “As I said, I’ll work on the command thing.” She turned and led him along the hall, aware of his eyes on her back.
    They had reached the rooms over the funeral parlor. Here, in the original part of the building, the halls were wider and the decor grander. This particular home had been in the Family ever since they had left Cincinnati.
    She stopped outside Gram’s office door. This wasn’t going to go well; she could feel it. She lifted her hand to knock, but the door swung inward before her knuckles touched the wood.
    “Ely Grace, where have you been?” a familiar male voice asked.
    Shocked, Elysia stared up into Doug Nelson’s bright blue eyes.
    He smiled at her surprise, his cheeks dimpling, before he pulled her into a hug.
    Chapter
7
    E lysia pulled out of Doug’s embrace, stepping back to put some distance between them. “Hey, Doug.” She forced a smile.
    He grinned at her. It had been months since she had seen him, but he hadn’t changed—neither in attitude nor in appearance. Thick-shouldered and handsome, he looked like a Nordic prince with his snow-blond hair and blue eyes.
    “Your grandmother has been worried sick about you. What happened?”
    “We had car trouble.” She used the same excuse she had given Livie.
    “We?” Doug’s gaze slipped past her to where James stood, then his blue eyes went white.
    Elysia felt Doug’s gift shroud the bond, and to her horror, she could no longer feel James.
    James’s eyes sprang to light and his growl gave her chills.
    “Doug, stop that.” She smacked his arm.
    Doug laughed, and his eyes immediately returned to bright blue, though he continued to study James. “So, you really found him. Your Grandmother told me, but I had my doubts.”
    “He’s mine.”
    “Possessive.” His attention returned to her, his smile becoming a frown. “Do I want to know why those pretty brown eyes are the color of warm cocoa?”
    “Don’t be a pervert,” she whispered.
    “Well, are you coming in?” Grams called from inside.
    Elysia raised an arm, gesturing for Doug to precede her into the room.
    His smile returned, and he gave her a nod that was closer to a bow before walking in ahead of her.
    Elysia glanced at James. “Join me?”
    “Who is that?”
    She hesitated. He wasn’t going to like it. “Doug Nelson, the next Deacon.”
    James glared at Doug’s back. “He seems to know you well.”
    “At one time, we were engaged.”
    James met her gaze, then stepped past her into the room.
    “Elysia!” Grams hurried around her desk to wrap her in a hug. “I was so worried.”
    “I’m sorry. I should have called.”
    Grams stepped back, but continued to hold her by the shoulders, looking her over. She wore a new red suit-dress, her salt and pepper hair pulled up and styled primly. Had she dressed up for Doug? The poor country cousins putting on their best for the Deacon’s boy.
    Elysia glanced over at him. “Doug, would you excuse us?”
    “Elysia,” Grams whispered.
    “It’s fine, Judith,” Doug said. “You two need to catch up. I’ll let Livie give me that tour.”
    “Thank you,” Grams said.
    Doug nodded, though his gaze was on Elysia. “We’ll catch up later, Ely.” She remembered well the look he gave her. “Do you want me to watch the dead guy