Read Magestorm: The Reckoning for Free Online

led to other questions, with all of the other vampires hating Dhane’s father.  The whole story of Algernon and Marissa would have to wait until morning though.  They finally rounded a corner and the motel was just ahead.
    They went inside the room and Samantha plopped down on her twin bed.  She wondered if she would be able to sleep at all now.  So many questions were running through her head, it was beginning to pound.  Too bad they didn’t have any aspirin.
    The mage slipped off his shoes and socks and sat on his bed across from his friend.  He knew he should probably tell her more, so she could understand things better.  That conversation would have to happen with Cassandra and Amber tomorrow though, so better to tell the story to all of them at once.
    “Are you okay?” He finally asked when she didn’t move for several minutes.
    “I’m just... it’s so weird.  Things were supposed to be better here.  Cassandra was building a great society of our kind, and now it’s just... it’s all gone.”
    “I think the first problem was the separation of our kind from the others.  United, the three groups have control of Thauma and are hunting us.  We tried to stay apart, like we were somehow better than them, to police them.  I think, if we had solidified with the others, we wouldn’t be in this situation.  Our relationships would’ve given us stronger numbers to withstand a few rogues.  Now the rogues are the ones with all the power.”
    “You may be right.”  She got up and walked over and sat down next to him.  “Do you think things will ever get better?”
    Dhane nodded, though he wasn’t sure he believed it.  Instead, he thought things would take a dramatic turn soon, and either they would get a foothold again, or collapse completely.  Running was the best option for Xander and Nicole, Cassandra and Amber.  At least they had a chance at real lives.  He put his arm around her and she laid her head on his shoulder.
    “I’m going to do whatever I can to see to it.  You just have to be patient.”
    She looked up at him, eyes full of sorrow.  “I believe you.”
    Gently, she brushed her lips against his , kissing him.

 
     
     
    10
     
    Elisabeth stood in the park and glanced around the neighborhood.  This didn’t feel right.  Somehow, she was sure Dhane wasn’t here.  Nonetheless, Charles and Sebastian had their troops searching every alley for any sign of the mage.
    “We’re getting nowhere.  It had to be Dhane or one of the werewolves that did that to my vampires.”
    “Yes Charles, I’m sure it was.  We can’t get payback if we can’t find him though.  I’ll double up the patrols and we’ll expand further from this spot.  If he shows his face, we’ll grab him.”
    Charles wasn’t really satisfied with that answer, but he didn’t have a choice.  At least the increase in patrols would put Sebastian’s wolves in harm’s way just as much as his vampires.  Maybe they would look harder when it was their own kind missing.  He marched off to lead his people in their search, noting that failure was not an option.
    “ Did that take care of him?”
    “Yes, Sebastian.  You are going to deliver the extra patrols, correct?”
    “Possibly.  I may need a little...persuading though.”
    The flash of a dirty look came across her face as he winked and smiled.  Busy with their flirtation, they didn’t realize they were being watched by more than one interested party.
 
    Heather watched from a rooftop nearby, the voices echoing up to her like sweet music.  She, too, was sure Dhane had killed the vampires, and that made her mind race.  Perhaps he was finally turning into the man she wanted, she needed.  Turning around, four vampires stood silently, waiting for orders.
    “If they increase patrols, then that will mean a decrease in security around the Grand.  Undoubtedly this is when Dhane will strike, trying to retrieve the spell books.  That is when you will grab