Frost Prisms (The Broken Prism Book 5) Read Online Free PDF Page A

raised an eyebrow at him and said, “Whatever for?”
    “Uh…” he started, “you know, for bringing my evil dad back with me on accident. I’m sure your father is going to hate me forever now, after all the Dark Prism cost the two of you the last time he was around.”
    Tess scowled and said, “It wasn’t your fault, Hayden. No one knew he was inside the other realm, and if he really did save your life and bring you back here then…well, then I guess I can’t be angry about it.”
    “You say that now,” Hayden grumbled. “But wait until he starts killing again…”
    “As long as you’re around, there’s still hope.” She gave him a small smile that Hayden didn’t feel he deserved. “You’re the only one who’s ever beaten him before, and that was before you even knew you had magic.”
    Hayden was about to open his mouth and tell her that she really shouldn’t put so much faith in him, because he still had no idea what happened on that day at his mother’s house, and after meeting his father and seeing how good the man was at virtually every task he set his mind to, he wasn’t at all sure he could take him in a fight.
    Zane prevented him from voicing any of his concern by saying, “Tess is right. You did it before and you can do it again. I’ve seen you work your way out of every horrible situation you’ve been thrown into in the last four years. Your father should have killed you while he had the chance, because you’re going to end him once and for all this time around.”
    Hayden had absolutely no idea what to say in the face of his friends’ absolute belief in him, so he said nothing at all.
    “Get some rest,” Tess said soothingly, resting her hand on his. “We’ll be here when you wake up.”
    “Thanks,” Hayden mumbled sleepily, yawning and closing his eyes, desperate to block out the world for a little while, to hide somewhere safe and recover.
    Soon there won’t be anywhere that’s safe for me.

2
    A Pile of Problems
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    True to their word, Tess and Zane were still sitting slumped in their chairs when Hayden opened his eyes. They were having a whispered conversation, but had broken off for the same reason that Hayden had snapped awake all of a sudden: the loud thump of something heavy slamming against the outside of the infirmary door.
    “What was that?” Hayden mumbled, rubbing sleep from his eyes and sitting upright.
    Zane and Tess looked at him in surprise and the former said, “No idea, but it startled me so badly I nearly jumped out of my skin. Sounded like a giant sack of potatoes hitting the door.”
    “It must have been someone banging on the door as they went by,” Tess scowled. “Practical jokers. I wish they hadn’t woken you up, because you need the rest.”
    “No, it’s okay, I’m feeling a lot better already,” Hayden assured her, stretching his arms and legs to limber them back up. His muscles were sore, but thanks to all the elixirs and salves, that was about the worst of it right now. “How long have I been asleep?”
    “Less than two hours,” Zane informed him.
    “What were you all talking about while I was out?”
    “Just what we think the Council of Mages is going to do now that they know about your father being back in town,” Zane explained.
    “Ah, I see. The Masters couldn’t seem to decide whether I’d be arrested or praised and sent off to fight him,” Hayden said without enthusiasm. “I’m personally hoping that someone else takes care of my father while I’m in prison, at which point the Masters will think of some cagey way to get me out of there and life will be good again.”
    Zane snorted in dry amusement.
    “I don’t think you’ll get that lucky. Everyone is counting on you to be stronger than your old man—again. No way will they let you rot in a jail cell while he’s on the loose.”
    Hayden frowned.
    “I don’t have magic that he doesn’t, and I’m certainly not faster at casting than