Read Fire for Free Online Page A

the chair, placing the cuffs on his wrists and ankles. He winked at Susan. "Don't even think about taking advantage of me while I'm out."
    "Oh – gag me," she wrinkled her nose.
    "Anytime, baby."
    Micah's fists tightened as he took a step toward Shawn.
    Shawn clicked his tongue in warning, still clutching the Athame. "You think you're ever going to find her without this? You think you'd be able to use this – and come out alive?"
    "Maybe I should do it," Susan said, moving in between the two men.
    "Absolutely out of the question," Alex said. "Too dangerous."
    Susan rolled her eyes.
    "No, he's right," Micah agreed, then nodded at Shawn. "Besides, he's dispensable."
    Susan looked at Micah, then Shawn. "Fine."
    "Fine." Shawn shrugged and clicked the cuffs closed around his wrists. "I'm gonna need salt, incense, a candle, and a bowl of water."
    Susan arched an eyebrow.
    "What?" he asked. "Afraid I'll make a margarita?"
    She huffed, but searched the small house for the required materials. "There," she said, setting the last of the four elements in front of him, then lighting the candle.
    Shawn performed the consecration spell.
    Micah looked on, still doubting if he’d made the right decision. But, hell, the guy was rendered practically immobile. It would be easy enough take the damn Athame and give it a try himself.
    Shawn's chanting ceased. He thrust the knife upward into the air with both hands – the point quivered unnaturally fast. Then he touched the blade flat against his forehead and nose.
    "Seriously?" Susan murmured.
    "That’s exactly how Kaitlyn did it," Alex said.
    Shawn slumped in the armchair, unconscious.
    "So what now?" Micah asked.
    "Now – we wait. And hope that Shawn, and only Shawn, comes back." Alex stood, stretching. "Want something to drink?"
    "Beer," Susan and Micah said in unison.
    "Right." Alex left the room.
    Micah sat on the couch beside his sister. He ran his hand through his hair and rubbed at the five day old stubble on his chin.
    "You need to get some sleep," Susan said, frowning at the bags under Micah’s eyes.
    Micah laughed. "I don't think I could if I tried."
    "You want some sleeping pills?"
    "No." He shook his head. "I can't be drugged up with this guy around."
    Susan looked at Shawn. His chest rose slowly at the relaxed pace of deep sleep. He looked almost angelic. She sighed. "What happened to him? How did he become… this?"
    They had all grown up together. They had all been adopted, raised, and trained by Cato. Only recently had they discovered Shawn was Cato's biological son.
    "Cato was always a little crazy in his own right," Micah said. "Shawn just took that crazy to a whole new level."
    "So you think it was all nature; nothing to do with nurture?"
    Micah smiled and put his arm around his sister. "Look at us – we turned out all right."
    "Well, one of us did anyway." She laughed. Her laugh died out as she looked at Shawn again. "Cato did spend a lot more time with him – taught him things he never got around to teaching us."
    Micah nodded. "I know. I think Cato was hoping Shawn would take over for him."
    Susan took a deep breath. Eyeing her brother, she said, "I'm going to change things, you know. It won't be like before."
    "I'm counting on it, sis." Micah leaned over, planting a kiss on the top of her head, like their father used to do to them.
    Susan looked back at Shawn. "What are we going to do with him, once we find Kaitlyn?"
    Micah looked down at his hands.
    She pressed the issue. "Could you kill him – your own brother?"
    "Adopted," Micah said. "Besides, she is my wife."
    "Handfasted," Susan said.
    Micah rubbed a hand over his face again, but movement called their attention back to Shawn before Micah could answer Susan’s question. Shawn's arm twitched, followed by a leg. He moaned.
    Susan and Micah jumped to their feet.
    "Is it a seizure?" Susan asked. "Alex – get in here!"
    Alex ran in, setting three open bottles of beer on the coffee table.
    "No," Micah said. "It's