Spiritbound Read Online Free Page A

unearned adoration irked him to the core. As he scanned the room as they left he realised that there weren’t that many warlocks around but there were lots of witches. No wonder he was being treated like a trophy bride. There was no way for him to pursue a woman, because they were all bent on pursuing him. Life in Britain hadn’t been like this. He’d had affairs, even though his main focus was study, but never was it dished out to him in this fashion.
    He reached his father. ‘What is she talking about, famous ?’ he said grumpily. He had to nip that in the bud if he could.
    ‘It’s nothing.’ His father supported his mother by the elbow. ‘Can you help?’ His mother was in a faint so Declan supported her from the other side. Someone probably said something that upset her.
    ‘Look,’ Declan said, giving his father the eye over his mother’s head. ‘It didn’t sound like nothing. I wish you wouldn’t tell people things about me. Let me make my own way.’ His parents had returned a year earlier than he had, as he’d been teaching at the college and wanted to complete the year. Now he saw what a mistake that had been. There was a practically a cheer squad waiting for him.
    They reached the car and they assisted his mother onto the seat and shut the door. His father swung round, an embarrassed smile on his face. He shrugged. ‘We might have mentioned that you excelled in battle magic…er…won a few combats.’
    Declan stood stock-still. ‘You didn’t.’ Hitting his palm against his forehead, he added, ‘You didn’t exaggerate, did you?’
    His father’s head tilted to one side. ‘Maybe just a tad.’
    ‘Great.’ No wonder the women were fawning all over him. All except Grace, who was rather put out, if anything, by their encounter. He didn’t need fake idolatry, but real friendships. While that wasn’t impossible, now his parents had made it a whole lot harder.
    ‘I’ll walk home. Okay?’
    ‘Come on, Dec. Don’t be like that.’
    ‘I need some air. It’s not far. I like walking.’
    His father started the car and backed down the driveway.
    Declan walked into the hall, ignoring the women who tried to catch his eye and their overzealous mothers, some which stood in his way. She wasn’t there. He excused himself and launched himself out the front door.
    There was no one lingering outside. He knew she’d gone. The scent of the sea washed over him. He’d take a walk along the harbour. He could almost smell her perfume in the air. As he walked along, his thoughts whirled. Grace. Grace, whose memory had stayed with him all those years…her dark eyes, fathomless, deep, and yet, warm. Her smile, rich. Her humour, infectious. He’d not forgotten her.
    He sat on the grass, watching the harbour lights playing on the water and the shadows of a ferry making its way to Circular Quay. Letting out a sigh, he realised that Grace had not forgotten him either, which was interesting, considering she hadn’t sent out any lures and had acted as if she were indifferent to him. Despite that, she knew how long to the day he’d been gone. That told him a different story. She cared, or at least she had.
    He didn’t think coming home would be like this—causing his emotions to whirl and writhe. He thought he knew what he wanted, where he wanted to be. His family meant a lot to him. They’d suffered enough.
    He climbed to his feet and wandered home. His mother would worry until she saw him. You’re the only light in my life, my son, she’d say every day. Still did.
    When he walked through the door, she turned her head, the lines of worry leaving her brow and mouth. ‘Are you all right, Mum?’
    ‘I’m fine,’ she said in a weak voice. ‘Just tired now.’ She put her cup of tea on the bench and came forward. ‘So did you meet any interesting witches tonight?’
    His father walked in from the living room. ‘Oh, he met plenty,’ his father chimed in before Declan could answer.
    Declan chuckled at his