Furious Flames (Elemental Book 3) Read Online Free

windows.
    Regina moaned, but I didn’t see any blood. “Are you
hurt?” I asked, torn between examining her and checking on my mother.
    “My head hurts…” she moaned, clutching her head as if
with a bad headache. It was my power. She was hurting because I was near her.
    I went around my car to put distance between us and
pulled out my phone.
    “What did he do this time?” Maseré asked when he
picked up.
    “Not Darwin this time. I’m willing to bet this is an
old enemy. I need someone to come pick up my ex-wife and get her back to her
house. It would also be great if you have a contact that can clean up a bombed
car, or I’m going to have to pull some strings.”
    “Address?” He was suddenly all business. I told him
the address. “My pack is on the way, and they’re not far. My beta is the
sheriff of a nearby town and many of my pack members are officers, so they can
get her somewhere safe. Get out of there. The last thing we need is a wizard in
jail, even for a minute.”
    I looked over the roof of my car at Regina, who was
sitting up with her knees to her chest, staring blankly at the burning car.
“I’m going to stick around until–”
    “Devon, who will stop Gale if you’re in jail? You
know what he’s capable of more than anyone. We’ll take care of your ex.”
    I heard sirens and nodded to myself. “Get here
quick.” I hung up, got in the car, and drove away. I had expected Gale to come
after me, but why would he go after a woman I openly despised? Why bomb
Regina’s car and not mine or my mother’s apartment?
    My mother was still unconscious when I arrived at my
apartment. I carried her upstairs and into my living room. Darwin and Amelia
stood aside. “Do you need an alibi?” Darwin asked.
    I almost laughed. “Meet Maria Sanders.” She was in
her sixties and the fragility of her mind emanated outward so that she looked a
lot thinner and feebler than she really was. It was the first time I saw her in
a year. It was depressing. In my shame of talking to Astrid, I was letting my
mother’s caretakers treat her badly.
    And the worst part was that I still wanted to see
Astrid.
     
    *          *          *
     
    An hour later, Amelia and I were making dinner while
Darwin worked on hunting down Gale. We only had a first name and we weren’t
even sure it was his real name. Until he got arrested or his fingerprints were
found at a crime scene, there wasn’t much to go on.
    “Can we use the amulet to do a tracking spell?”
Darwin asked, still typing.
    “I don’t think the amulet is personal enough.
Besides, Henry pretty much laid claim to it.”
    “Do we trust Henry with it?” he asked when Amelia
left. “Why did he want it so badly?”
    “I think at first it was to keep it out of the
council’s hands. Second, it was probably a bit of shame that he failed to get
it in the first place. Now I think he intends to use it to break the hold of
the full moon. He might even be trying to use it to control his jaguar or his
parents. Either way, I think we can trust him not to screw us over. His
parents, on the other hand…”
    “Yeah, well, they don’t deserve better from what
we’ve heard. I should get online and mess them up a bit.”
    “They would probably take it out on Henry.”
    We were just about finished making spaghetti and
garlic bread when my mother woke. I introduced her to Darwin and Amelia, having
forewarned them that she knew nothing about magic. She was always extremely
polite, so she and Amelia got along famously. Darwin really did try to tone
down his personality, but there was nothing subtle about the man.
    My mother regarded my kitchen thoughtfully before
opening her mouth. “Regina doesn’t have much decorating skills. I would get a
professional next time, honey.”
    “Don’t worry, Mom. There are several professionals
just waiting for the next time Regina screws up.”
    “Good,” she said, walking into the living room. Darwin
went with her while