Syphon's Song Read Online Free Page A

lying.
    “I’m not accusing you of stealing a body. I know you didn’t do this. Just tell me you have witnesses to back up your alibi.” His blue eyes morphed to steel even as his tone softened.
    “We’ll find some if she doesn’t, Vin,” Edmund said.
    She looked away, ignoring them both. Her mind was too clouded to think back two weeks. She faced the angry patriarch seething behind his desk. “The Casteels did not feel there was a threat to you, sir, so they chose to keep the information to themselves.”
    “No threat?” His roar echoed.
    His angry words pierced right through her skin. Her ears popped with the pressure of his energy cast. Power arced sharply into her chest. His finger jabbed in the air as if he would strike at her stuttering heart. “How long have you known about this?”
    She struggled for breath. The force of his angry spell hovered, suffocating her. Bronte put a hand over her heart to shield it. Unlike other mages, she had no way to defend herself against a mage spell. Her power didn’t work like that. She was going to die. Right here. Fretting about burning at the stake had been misplaced worry.
    Vincent laid his hand on her shoulder. The pain from the senator’s vibes eased in an instant, but her head still spun with nauseating speed from the aftereffects.
    “Breathe,” Vincent ordered, his face intent on hers. He stood, breaking the contact between them. He turned to his grandfather, his fingers pressing like claws into the desk. “Back down, senator.” His whispered voice ruffled the hair on the back of her neck. “Syphons cannot shield themselves from spells. She is helpless against a mage. You don’t want to hurt her.”
    Air pressure built until she thought her ears would implode. And just like that, it was gone. Silence rained down around them. It took a while before she had the courage to break it, but she spoke up, claiming the innocence that was hers.
    “My mother informed me about the missing body late last night. She sent the thief’s letter by messenger. It arrived at the same time as her landline call. She instructed me not to read it. I don’t know anymore than I’ve told you.” The words rushed out.
    The senator’s red face glowed as he read the letter aloud. “ The body of Walter Casteel lies in the Rallis gyre, along with the Casteel Medallion. We will no longer tolerate being ignored. Use the power to better our land for all mages and Normals. It’s unsigned.” Senator Rallis looked up from the letter, anger shining from his eyes. “Only one group refers to Nons as Normals. Double-Wide.”
    Double-Wide…terrorists…it resonated through her mind. Bronte swallowed hard and clutched at her purse. The leaf was a lousy talisman. Her mother had neglected to mention anything about the horrific anti-mage group. How was it possible that Double-Wide, named after the trailers so many poor Nons lived in, including Bronte, had targeted a founding family?
    “Put the letter down, Granddad.” Vincent gave the order softly. “Goddess knows it’s been handled so much the vibes are all blurry, but maybe there’s something left for the energy readers.”
    “I doubt that.” But the senator dropped the letter.
    “They’ve managed to pick up vibes from the bomb’s residue. There’s a chance. We’re getting closer. Just not close enough.”
    Bronte had read the newspaper accounts of each bombing over the last several months. The latest attack was early this morning in a minor city of Rallis Territory. She’d heard about it on the radio station during the drive here. According to the reporter, the explosion demolished a new apartment building that was only partially full. A young family of Nons had perished. The bombing obviously hadn’t gone as intended. Nons wouldn’t have been the target. Plus the device had been capable of a much bigger explosion. Thankfully it malfunctioned.
    “Double-Wide has invaded our home and yours, Miss Casteel,” the senator