Read Magestorm: The Reckoning for Free Online Page B

last night...”
    Ah, here it was.  After much reflection, she must’ve realized that things wouldn’t, couldn’t work between them.  The kiss was a mistake, for sure.  The cuddling afterwards, all night, was just so she wouldn’t feel all alone in what had turned into a very cold world.  Right?
    “Yeah, last night.  It was fine, I know...”
    “I wanted more.  All night I waited for you to touch me, to take me.  Am I not attractive to you?  It’s okay, I understand if that’s it.”
    “No, it’s not that,” he put his arms around her and hugged her, hoping she wasn’t about to start crying.  “I just didn’t feel right about doing that considering everything.  You were in a sensitive state, I think.  And then there’s...”
    “Amelia.”
    She looked up into his eyes and he nodded.  Though he didn’t know where she was, Amelia was the only thing he wanted.  The funny thing was, by the time he realized that, she slipped from his grasp.  Even preparing for a war that could very possibly cost him his life, he longed for her touch just one more time.
    “You don’t even know where she went or why she left.  Maybe things weren’t meant to be with her.”
    “I know, I just...”
    “I’m not trying to push you or anything.  Tonight, when I go to bed, I’ll be naked under the covers.  If you want me, even just for one night, join me.  If not, there will be no hard feelings.”
    Samantha started walking down the sidewalk back to the motel.  After a couple of minutes, Cassandra exited the diner with Amber and looked at Dhane curiously.
    “What was that about?”
    “You don’t want to know.”
    The three of them walked back to the motel together, mostly in silence, thinking about what may lie ahead.  As they passed the motel office, the clerk came running out them.  He was a lanky young man, all arms and legs, and looked as coordinated as a one-legged dog.
    “Sir, I have a message for you.  A gentleman stopped by last night, but I wasn’t able to catch you before you left this morning.”
    The clerk handed Dhane an envelope that had his name on the front, and simply a “D” on the back.  He didn’t really want to open it in front of Cassandra, but he didn’t really have a choice right now.  Reluctantly he tore open the envelope and looked at the expected scratchy writing of Demian.  After studying the spell pages he had handwritten, it was easy now.
    “I have to run.”
    “Where are you going?”
    He hesitated.  If he told her, surely they would come along.  On the chance that Elisabeth had learned the serpent tongue, it was too risky for anyone but himself.  Besides, if it turned out to be a trap, he may need someone to rescue him.  Cassandra closed her eyes took a deep breath.  Finally she opened them, not happy, but nodded in understanding.
    “Be careful.”
    “Always.”
             

 
     
     
    12
     
    It was obvious that there were very few actual guards at the Grand.  After watching for over three hours, Dhane saw no patrols circle the building.  Instead, a guard would pop his head out each of the exits, look around real quick, and then head back in.  And it was always the same guard.  Clearly they were short-handed.
    Quietly but quickly, he crept up to the hotel and peered through windows, watching for any signs of life.  Once he was sure things were all clear he checked the windows, hoping to find one unlocked.  Room after room he checked until finally the sixth empty room had an unlocked window.  Gently he slid it up and listened for any alarms.  There were none.
    He climbed inside and slid it shut behind him.  Next he waited patiently for the guard to come down the hall again and check out the back door.  Once he finished his check, he disappeared back into the lobby and Dhane had about fifteen minutes of freedom in the hall.
    The question now was, would Elisabeth keep the spell books in her own room, the library, or the council room?