Eye of the Storm (The Charmed) Read Online Free

There was no use sleeping so Jaden got up.
    Brendan, sensing movement in the tent, got up as well. The two men set about starting a fire. Brendan stacked the wood and Jaden looking around for signs of people, thrust a hand to the sticks and set them on fire. By the time the girls made it out, breakfast was cooked, coffee made and the boys had started gathering the supplies for the day.
    They ate quietly, all a bit sore from sleeping on the ground. Their packs slung over their shoulders, they set about for a long day up the mountain.
    Jaden suspected the area was bewitched because even wildlife avoided the trail. Instead, they would stop abruptly and turn back the way they came.
    By the time dinner approached they had made it to an overlook that gave them a full view of the valley.
    “Wow. It’s so pretty up here.” Brendan whistled.
    Harley snorted.
    Brendan looked over at where she was busy helping with dinner. “What?”
    “Nothing. It’s just, since when have you ever noticed a view being so pretty before?” She put air quote signs around the word pretty.
    Brendan decided a different approach was in order. “In all my years I’ve known you,” Brendan started walking slowly toward her, “The only beautiful view I’d ever seen was you.” He looked out toward the valley again. “Maybe it’s time I opened my eyes a little.”
    Harley opened her mouth in shock. Brendan had never been a deep thinker, never more than pure fluff and goof. The comment had slapped her fierce. Maybe she deserved it, maybe she didn’t. Harley busied herself with dinner. Brendan smirked and walked back to the ledge.
    Harley looked up at Brendan’s back. She realized sadly that she would have to get a new man to give Brendan a taste of his own medicine. She wasn’t going to wait around for him to make anything right, she deserved better than that, but what Harley didn’t know was that she was falling right into Brendan’s little trap.

Chapter 3

Seattle
    M r. M touched down in the Emerald City, also known as Seattle. Constance and Frank Bleu, Lyla’s parents, were here and expecting him. They left town a few months back to get any eyes off of her. He checked his watch. They were meeting him at SeaTac so he could turn around and get back on the plane for Florida but Sam had other plans, and what they didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them. Sam walked out of the security gates and directly to the only coffee shop in site, Seattle’s Best Coffee. Constance and Frank were already there.
    “Sam, how is Lyla?” Constance pounced.
    “Why don’t we find a quiet corner?”
    Frank looked around. “I think we’ve been followed, I’d feel safer in our own car where protection has been placed.”
    Sam nodded. “Lead the way.”
    They went to the car silently and pretended to be leaving. Frank started the car and drove out of the aisle. He moved the car up a few levels until they were at the top. He turned the engine off and they both turned to Sam to talk.
    Sam filled them in as far as he could. He had no idea where Jaden and the rest were at the moment so he left that part out. Better to not panic them, he thought. Sam had questions of his own.
    “So until we find what safe house they’re in, there’s nothing we can do. Jaden has a handle on it.”
    “Maybe it’s time we headed back.” Frank looked worried.
    “And bring unwanted attention back to us before we even find them? It would be a nightmare trying to keep them safe, no. Look, I know your first inclination is to run back to Lakeland and get Lyla and hide her again, but now there’s Chase. We can’t separate them and you two have a tendency to try and run. It would only kill them.”
    Constance and Frank looked at each other, concern written across their features. “Alright.” Constance stated.
    “Now I have a few questions of my own for the both of you.” Sam leaned forward and placed a hand on Constance’s arm. “Listen, now that Lyla has Occlumency, as well as