From the Ashes (Witches of The Demon Isle Book 8) Read Online Free PDF Page B

me stay here. Besides, you need me. Michael’s taking care of Emily, and William’s gone…”
    “I think you’re ready to go home,” Charlie told her. He’d actually never been so confident about his sister’s mental health. “But let me check with the doctor and make sure, okay?” He stood up to leave the room and stopped. “You know how much I love you, right?”
    “Lots?” she returned lightheartedly.
    “Yeah. Lots.”
    “I love you too, Charlie. You might not be Mom or Dad, but you’re one of the two best big brothers a girl could ask for.”
    He responded with a blunt chuckle and left the room wishing that were true. Best, was not what he was thinking at all. His sister was right about being a pass or fail kind of guy. If he didn’t get it right, he was a failure. But the middle ground was not an attractive place to hang out in…
    While he checked with the doctor, Melinda lay back and stared at the ceiling.
    There were no more secrets. She’d done what William had asked.
    Her heart was lighter in some ways. Heavier in others.
    She wondered where he was, what he was doing, if he was alone. And most of all when he would come home. She could not even think straight at the thought of maybe he had left, and would not come home. That their short goodbye was in fact, a final goodbye.
    Maybe it was everything to do with them, and he’d lied to make her feel better. He’d promised no more secrets… at least revolving around them. So perhaps it really wasn’t anything to do with them. But that meant it was something else that no one knew of, and he was not willing to share. Even with her.
    And William had told her to forgive Riley… what she really heard was, he’s right for you, I’m not. She hadn’t expected anything different, and yet it still hurt to hear. God. Riley… she wanted to forgive him. She really did. It wasn’t even his fault, all that had happened and all the terrible things he’d said, and done. The memory of his dashing smile warmed her, but turned to dread when his lips curled into a vile grin. She wished she could breathe out the memory of that and let it fly away across the ocean.
    Not too long ago she’d thought he was perfect. And he could comfort her in a way no one else could. And even if that comfort might feel good right now, in a way, Melinda didn’t want it. Which had nothing at all to do with Riley and everything to do with the one thing her brain had successfully worked out during her time in the hospital.
    She never wanted to be helpless like that ever again.
    She did not want to depend on her brothers, or William, or Mack, or anyone, in the future.
    Only herself.
    Which meant picking herself up, getting back on her feet, and proving she could make it on her own.
     

 
    CHAPTER 2
     
    Lucas and Lizzy Deane were on the ferry heading home to The Demon Isle. They’d attempted to follow and track Riley’s trail after he’d fled the Isle three days prior, but the trail had gone cold, and they were forced to give up and go home. All they’d been able to figure out, he’d headed south. Which is about the only direction you can head when in the state of Maine, unless you want to end up across the border in Canada, and Riley didn’t have a passport.
    All he did have was his motorcycle and few personal belongings. None of which included a phone they could use to contact him as he’d dumped it before leaving the Isle. Not that he’d answer or respond anyway. He’d run away, and frankly, even worried about him, they couldn’t blame him for doing so.
    It was early morning, minutes before sunrise. Lucas and Lizzy had slept only a few short hours in the last few days, never mind the time before that during the confrontation with the Feyk. But they had to try to find Riley, even with the assumption the effort would prove useless.
    Fog rolled across the bay, lazily; it was still too cool for it to lift, but the ferry departed on time, regardless. Lucas half-heartedly