Compelled Read Online Free Page A

confidence.
    “Not really. I need some answers, and my spellcasting friends have exited stage right.”
    The sounds of his footsteps stopped. “Are you in New York right now?”
    “Yeah, I’m in Upper West Side near Dr. Frank’s office.”
    “Stay where you are. I just finished a go-see with a designer, so I’m free. Let’s grab a coffee.”
    “You’re the best, Ty.”
    Not long after our phone conversation, we met in a coffee shop off 73rd. The place wasn’t the cleanest, but Tyler didn’t stop me as I wiped off the small table. The tall dwarf even moved the napkin holder so I could scrub underneath it. A few ladies passed us and looked over Tyler’s perfect blond hair, lean waist, and long legs. But he didn’t return their gaze, so they moved on.
    My poor friend made it damn clear he wasn’t a ladies’ man.
    The dwarf scooted down in his seat with shoulders pushed forward, chin pressed near his chest. His bright blue eyes, almost the color of the ocean, reflected insecurity. Hopefully, he didn’t act this way during his modeling gigs.
    “You haven’t heard about it, have you?” he asked.
    “About what?”
    “There’s a war going on between the warlocks and the wizards, a pretty big one from what I’ve heard through dwarf circles.”
    “A shape-shifter said something about a war, but he didn’t go into details. This had to explain why Dr. Frank is gone, and I’ve barely seen any spellcasters at The Bends.”
    “Folks are hunkering down for the fighting. I’ve heard they mask the fighting, but there’s no telling what races will get pulled into this, including the dwarves.”
    “You might have to fight?”
    He shrugged. “I don’t know, to be honest. The wizards will expect us to choose a side sooner or later. Either way, I’m prepared to die as a free dwarf and not one of their damn minions.”
    Someone passed our table and gave Tyler a weird look. That “I’m prepared to die as a free dwarf” line was a little too Lord of the Rings .
    I chewed on my thoughts before I spoke. “I need to go to Russia.”
    His eyebrow rose. “I know this website where you can get great deals—”
    “That’s not what I mean.” I dished on what my grandma told me about Tamara and the wizards. About how they were looking for a way to remove death curses from objects. “As much as I’d like to sit around and wait for help to come to me, I can’t. My husband’s life depends on this.”
    He chuckled. “I know that from experience.”
    “I’m prepared to go alone if I must. I need answers.” As my voice rose, the urge to bite my tongue hit. I’d let my eagerness get the best of me. “I can’t stand waiting on the sidelines anymore to have what I fought so hard for taken away. I’m not exactly the richest person, so I thought maybe Nick or Dr. Frank could help me figure out the jump points spellcasters use so I could get to Russia somehow.”
    “Nat…I don’t know if doing this is a good idea. Do you even know where you’re going or what you’ll do when you get there?”
    He had a point. Still, I didn’t care.
    I rolled my eyes. “I’ve had plenty of time—a bit too much—to think about what to do. Through some digging, I’ve found where Tamara lives outside of St. Petersburg.” I’d checked my parents’ caller ID and found Tamara’s phone number. I had enough amateur detective skills to help me track down her address.
    “Did your grandma tell you to go?”
    I gave him a death-glare.
    “She wouldn’t want you to get hurt,” he whispered.
    “I’ve had my leg broken with a crowbar, my forehead smashed into a dashboard, and I’ve had the shit beaten out of me. Being afraid is kinda out the door right about now.”
    Alpha female for the win.
    Tyler sighed. “I shouldn’t be doing this, but I can help you in a few days. Raj once got me to a photo shoot in Thailand. He didn’t use a wizard jump point but something similar.”
    “Thank you.” I couldn’t resist grinning like a