Scorched Treachery Read Online Free Page A

care...”
    “No!” I gasped. His statement combined with what he had said on the phone a moment ago putting the name in my head. “Not Ovailia! I mean, she’s wicked, yeah, but she wouldn’t betray him, not again.”
    “What would stop her from doing it again?” Talon asked softly. I held my tongue. He had a point. Ovailia’s personality was not one that lent itself to loyalty; she would go where the chips lay thickest.
    “B esides, the crying we keep hearing, it is like she is fighting against the bind Ilyan placed over everyone to keep his location secret.”
    I could only stare and nod. He had a point. Ilyan had placed that little touch of magic inside of everyone when he first went on the run, hundreds of years ago. I shouldn’t be surprised it was still around and strong enough to keep Ovailia’s tongue at bay.
    “I’m going to go talk to her,” Talon said, his voice making it sound as if he was walking into a death camp, not simply speaking with Ovailia. I didn’t want to face Ovailia, not in the slightest, but I couldn’t let him face her alone. This confrontation would not be pretty.
    “Let’s go,” I said, trying to ignore the foreboding pulse of my nerves.
    I jumped out of bed and took the two quick steps to my dresser. I didn’t even look as I grabbed random items of clothing in my rush to leave: Styx shirt, red skinny jeans, black converse.
    Talon, now dressed himself, nodded once before moving toward the door, my converse squeaking as I followed him.
    Everything was tense inside of me. My muscles and magic were tight against my skin, just waiting for Ovailia to pop around a corner and attack us. Talon walked in front of me, his hulking form leading the way, his fists clenched to his sides. I wanted to reach out and hold his hand, but he did not need that kind of comfort.
    We had just passed the orchard when a loud robotic song began to play from the pocket of my jeans. I pulled the phone out to find Ilyan’s name lit up . On the screen was a picture of him and Talon from when they dressed up in some medieval armor they had found in a storage room.
    Now? She would call right now?
    I stared at the picture, a heavy need to talk to her temporarily clouding the fear of where Talon and I had been heading.
    “You should answer that.”
    “But, Talon,” I began, my voice laced with a whine.
    “Stay here. Talk to Jos. She needs you.” I could only nod. I wanted to say that he needed me too, but I couldn’t. He was right. I wasn’t very happy.
    Talon ignored my surliness and leaned down to kiss me, a soft peck on my lips his sweet goodbye.
    “You will be back, right?” I asked trying to put a laugh on my lips, but the way he had spoken was making me uncomfortable.
    “I was raised to protect my people, my King, and now my wife. I will return, Wyn, don’t worry.” He smiled before he left, his eyes shining with his promise.
    I smiled at him as he left, before turning back toward our room, pressing the phone to my ear.
    “Jos!” I yelled into the phone as I made my way back down the hall. “Oh please tell me you are okay! I’ve been so worried since Talon told me what happened. Then you didn’t call me at all yesterday.” I really wanted to yell at her, berate her for not calling me sooner, but I was so happy she was calling in the first place that a little berating could wait until later.
    “I knew I should have gone with you!” I continued when she said nothing. It’s not as if I gave her a chance, which is probably why she cut me off. “This never would have happened if I had…”
    “It would have happened either way, Wyn,” she interrupted, our voices overlapping a bit. “If you were here, you would have gotten hurt too.”
    “Too?” I practically screeched. “You got hurt?”
    “Nothing a little magic can’t fix.” I breathed out like I had been holding my breath my entire life, my exhale loud and obnoxious.
    “I can still come out if you want. An extra pair of hands