Salvaged Soul (The Ignited Series Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page B

to place his elbows on the desk, and cupped his chin in his hands. The sharply curved eyebrows softened . . . just a little.
    Knowing he was close to caving, I added, “I need this. Kris needs this.”
    The look he gave me let me know how big of a pain in the ass he considered me, then with a loud sigh, he opened the top drawer of the desk and withdrew a stack of papers. He flipped through them, scanning over a few. At last, he said, “Tonight. O’Brien’s on the dock. He can get you the boat, and he won’t ask questions.”
    I grinned. “O’Brien? The little shit I beat the snot out of before I left?” That had been, what, nearly seven years ago? But, oh, I remembered him. And I knew he wouldn’t ask any questions.
    Jared nodded once. “That would be the one.”
    I couldn’t help but chuckle. Jared looked up with a stern expression, but I saw the hint of a smile hiding under his mask. “Don’t push it,” he warned.
    I threw my hands up in surrender, and promised, “I’ll be good.” Not like I cared anymore about whatever girl we had been fighting over then. As long as he kept his eyes off of Kris tonight, his nose would remain unbroken.
    “You know Skotadi are in the area,” Jared warned. “They’re always snooping around the mainland, trying to figure out where we’re hiding . . .”
    “I know, I know. Don’t let them track me back to the island. Don’t get killed. I know the rules.”
    Jared made a noise that fell somewhere between a snort and laugh. “Doesn’t mean you know how to follow them.”
    I smiled as I backed out the door. “Stranger things have happened,” I said, and then I got the hell out of there before he changed his mind.
    I had a grin ready for every guard I passed on my way out of the building. Once outside, I headed toward the beach. My usual hour at the gym was shot by now anyway, and I was too excited to wait until lunch to give Kris the good news. I kicked off my sandals before stepping onto the sand, and made my way toward the cluster of bodies on the far end of the beach.
    Considering they were experimenting with Incantation, they kept out of sight as much as possible. Very few Kala ventured that far down the beach, and those that did usually did so in the evening, and for privacy of an entirely different type.
    As I neared, I was able to make out the individual faces. Kris, of course, was the center of attention, and appeared to have Gran and Micah both instructing her in some sort of exercise. Alec had taken up a position a few yards away, and appeared to be working on something of his own. Regardless, he maintained a watchful eye on Kris.
    I didn’t mind that so much anymore. Now, I considered it a good thing that he cared about her as much as he did, and looked out for her in my absence. Despite the stormy start to our relationship, I was glad that Alec was such a big part of Kris’s life, simply because it was important to her. Because she insisted on maintaining a friendship with him, I chose to overlook the few lingering glances he shot her, only because they were becoming less frequent and slightly less pathetic.
    The bodyguards were present as well. Richie, serving as Micah’s protection, kept his eyes fixed on Kris as she and Micah worked together. Though he appeared relaxed where he sat in the sand, I noted the rigidness of his shoulders, and knew he was prepared to spring at the first sign of aggression toward Micah. Bruce, on the other hand, wasn’t even near them, choosing instead to whale watch—or whatever he was doing— from the pier.
    Richie was the first to spot me, and quickly scampered to his feet in a defensive posture before he realized it was only me. His abrupt reaction caused the others to take notice of me. Kris immediately dropped what she was doing. Literally. A wall of sand, suspended midair by nothing but her mind, fell to the ground as she spun around to meet me.
    “That’s—umph.” I swayed slightly as the weight of her—as