Tempest of Vengeance Read Online Free PDF Page A

another ingredient to bind the
two spells together, a plant called, appropriately, ‘bindweed.’ But
it didn’t just bind the two spells together, it make the one
stronger. What you share with Theo is real, Sar, but you were bound
together much tighter than normal—”
    “Do you have a point in here somewhere?” I
said harshly, interrupting him.
    “My point is Titus said he’ll finally break
the last part of the spell tonight,” Terian said quietly. “He also
said to tell you he was sorry it’s taken so long. But he doesn’t
know how this will affect you both. So please call me, if you need
me to teleport you to Hayden. I’ve put in place some barriers on
teleportation in the house that will stop anyone but Titus and
me—”
    I nodded, but thought to myself there was no
way I was calling him. I could teleport myself, thanks very much. I
wasn’t even happy he knew about the bond being broken. But it had
sounded like Titus had needed Tears to show him what he’d done, so
Titus could undo it. I couldn’t fault him for that.
    “— ok?” Terian finished.
    “Sure,” I agreed absently. “And I’m sorry,
for coming down on you. I’m just upset.”
    Terian left soon after, and I was again
alone. For a long time I did nothing but stare into space, marking
the passing of each moment like it was a milestone of achievement
that I kept existing in this world without Devon. But the more I
sat, the more I realized I needed to do something. So I picked up
the phone and called Dev. He listened, and said he’d do it. After,
I headed to the couch, and took a long nap.
    Later that night, when Theo was picking up
Jenny at the airport, Devlin, I, and Serena walked slowly through
the bitter cold to the cemetery. When we arrived, I laid the mass
of white flowers that Devlin had purchased for me on the snowy
grave.
    White roses. Devon and I had gotten them from
Theo when my baby was still growing inside me. Devon was getting
them this one last time from me, in remembrance. Then I was never
going to have another white rose within my sight again, if I could
help it.
    “I’m sorry I wasn’t there with you today,”
Dev said softly, hugging me. “I wanted to be, very much. I’m glad
you asked me here tonight, so I could pay my respects.”
    “Theo did it on purpose, held the funeral in
the daytime, so you couldn’t be there,” I said emotionlessly.
“Don’t feel bad. I needed this anyway, to pray, to take some
comfort in my beliefs. I need my faith now more than ever.”
    Serena made the sign of the cross, and the
three of us bowed our heads. We recited the Lord’s Prayer, and
Devlin recited a poem by a woman by the name of Hitchcock, called
“Ascension”. I recited one called “If You Go First and I Remain”.
And finally, Serena said a prayer asking God to watch over Devon,
and to be with us all, but especially Venus, in her time of
loss.
    I felt fresh tears on my face, and looked
over at Dev. In all this, I hadn’t thought of her, not once. Deep
shame flooded me to the core. “How is she, Dev?”
    “She’s been crying quietly since three a.m.
this morning,” Devlin said, his expression haggard. “Nothing I did
or said would make her stop. Nothing anyone said or did would make
her stop.”
    “Why didn’t you call and tell me?”
    “Titus said she was fine, there was nothing
wrong with her. We didn’t understand why until T called, and said
Devon was dead.”
    I swayed, and Devlin steadied me with his
hand. “Come home with me now. Please, Sar. Let me take care of
you—”
    “No,” I said reluctantly. “Theo needs me now,
like you did back in September. He’s lost Danial, and he’s lost our
son. Elle needs me, too. You need to take care of Venus—”
    “Bring Elle to live at Hayden,” Devlin urged,
hugging me tightly. “Come home tonight with me! Don’t stay here!
Please, Sar! It isn’t just me who is worried. Titus sent his
sympathy too, but even he said you shouldn’t be here