Read Adam for Free Online

truth. Kane and Corrine wanted no part of her. They couldn’t stand to look at her, never mind sit and have some kind of conversation. So it really was a waste of time to dwell on her family, past or present.
    “You’re right,” she said softly. “It probably is a waste of time.”
    As usual, the minute he had spoken the vicious words, Seth regretted them. Leah was his best friend. She was always nice to him. They liked so many of the same things. They thought so many of the same ways. And they were both born out of some stupid prophecy that neither of them felt they could live up to. Leah would give anything to be a normal Demon from a normal element, something simple like Water or Body. And Seth would give anything to have been born to normal, run-of-the-mill parents instead of the most powerful and Ancient one and the King’s dynamic sister.
    But Seth caught himself in that thought and just as quickly rejected it. He loved his mother. She was the only thing that made living with his father bearable.
    “Well ... what’s his name?” Seth asked awkwardly.
    “Who?”
    “This uncle you had.”
    “Oh.” She shrugged. “Adam. He was supposedly this real kick-ass Demon. He was—”
    “Enforcer before your father,” Seth finished for her. He nodded and sat back down next to her, but on the edge of the bench only, in case she didn’t welcome him after he’d been so mean.
    “How did you know that?” she asked.
    “History lessons. You know my dad. He’s always on me about history. It’s easy for him, though. He can remember it all because he was there.”
    “Oh yeah.” Then Leah’s whole face brightened and she slid closer to Seth, grabbing hold of his arm eagerly. “Oh yeah! Your dad lived through all of that! I bet he knew Adam, too.”
    “Well sure. Until he just disappeared ... hey, I know that look. You’ve got something going on in your brain,” Seth accused her. “Some kind of plot.”
    “No plot. Just curiosity. Elijah tends to exaggerate about warrior prowess and all of that when it comes to his friends who are ... you know, dead. But your dad doesn’t ever exaggerate about anything.”
    “No.” Seth gave a beleaguered sigh. He screwed himself up into a proper imitation of his father. “‘It makes no logical sense to decorate a story with colorful and emotional flotsam.’”
    Leah giggled. “You do that very well.”
    “Yeah well, I have the benefit of an up-close study.”
    “Do you think he would talk to me about it?”
    “It’s hard to say.” Seth thought about it a minute, the generous lips he’d inherited from his mother quirking into half a frown. “We’d have to make him think it was his idea or something.”
    “Or make it seem like a history lesson.”
    “Why do you want to know about some dead uncle anyway?” Seth nudged his shoulder into hers. “Don’t you hear enough about the dead people you missed out on?”
    She gave him a grim nod. “True. But ... I have my reasons. Let’s leave it at that.”

Chapter 2
     
    “There were yellow flowers in the children’s hair last week,” Syreena said softly. Her expression turned sad and wistful. “But now they’ve all died and faded. And I can’t find the children.” Then she smiled brightly at Jasmine, the multicolored streaks in her charcoal eyes actually growing light. “But we shall find fresh flowers in the gardens. I think bluebells will look lovely. Have you seen the children?”
    Jasmine had been on her way out of the citadel when she was waylaid by the Lycanthrope Princess, who was married to Damien, the Vampire Prince, and Jasmine’s closest friend. Now she sighed and tried not to roll her eyes. Syreena didn’t respond well to negative emotions and hostility, so it was best to talk softly and play along.
    “Um ... I think they’re in the courtyard.”
    Yeah. Right. Just like there were no flowers in the gardens at this time of year, yellow or blue.
    “Oh, but I looked there earlier,” Syreena said