Read Online Just Breathe by Kendall Grey - Free Book Online Page B

possible for you to meet me in Hervey Bay on the sixteenth? I’ll take you to her myself. I don’t want to risk her safety. I’m sure you’ve heard of the threats against her. And me.”
    After thinking long and hard about it, Zoe was convinced someone in Lana’s camp—not a Fyre Elemental—had masterminded the plot to drive Zoe out of Hervey Bay. Catherine Marchand from Oceania Whale Trust had provided almost enough evidence to prove it. Almost .
    “I don’t control or condone the actions of my followers. Your boyfriend knows I had nothing to do with the incidents you’re referring to. How is Gavin, by the way?”
    Hackles raised, Zoe reminded herself to be polite. “You’d have to ask him. We haven’t spoken in a few days.”
    “Really?” Her voice perked up. “Well, then, I may invite him to our little soirée on the sixteenth.”
    Zoe closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I’ll contact you in a week or so, and we’ll set up a time to meet. Thanks for your cooperation. And if you don’t mind, leave your thugs at home. I doubt Lily would appreciate any further threats.”
    “See you soon, Ms. Morgan.” The voice turned icy.
    “You bet.”
    Teeth clenched, Zoe got ready for bed and prepared to make another trip into the Dreaming. Ms. Morgan had some big-time recruiting to do this evening.

Chapter Nine
    September 10
    Sinnder frowned as he watched Scarlet across the polished wooden table in the Fyre Council chambers. Smug as ever—relaxed, even—she played with her long, curly hair and shot coy smiles at each of the bishops.
    Her Fire had doubled since the last time he saw her. Which explained the spate of arson stories holding the evening news channels hostage lately.
    The heat in his chest rumbled like a pissed off thunderhead with a bad case of indigestion.
    “The Wæters still have no Archelemental, and there’s no confirmation yet about whether any of the whales Scarlet and Sinnder killed was the right one,” a female Council member reported.
    Eidan nodded behind steepled fingers, his elbows resting lightly on the table. “I’ll take that as a sign we should push forward. Even if they do get a new leader placed before the equinox, she won’t have time to gather enough Water to be a threat to us.”
    The Archelemental stood and moseyed around the room. Each bishop subtly turned in his or her chair and maintained eye contact. Though the bishops were sycophantic morons, none were stupid enough to turn their backs on Eidan.
    Scarlet aimed a pleased grin at Sinnder and wiggled her shoulders. After the stunt she pulled on Gavin and Zoe two weeks ago, she’d occupied Sinnder’s every thought. So many long-buried memories had boiled to the surface of his mind. Dangerous. Very dangerous.
    Why did history choose to taunt him now? Didn’t matter. The important thing was that he’d rediscovered some of his raison d’être . He’d been dilly-dallying over what to do about Scarlet for centuries. It was time to feed his past—and Scarlet—the cyanide it deserved.
    He stared at Scarlet. Open wide.
    Eidan ambled along his circular path. “I’m proud of the work you bishops have put into Incendius’s rise to power. The panic you’ve created among the Wyldlings has filled our Elemental coffers with much of the Fire our god demands.
    “But there is still not enough. We have before us a great opportunity that we may never see again. If we can amp up the conflict among the humans with one last, potent shove, we’ll surpass the other Elementals’ stores, and Incendius will reward us with fiery riches for years to come.
    “We live in turbulent times. All the more reason to play on the Wyldlings’ natural fears. In recent years, terrorism has turned our world upside down—Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Russia, Israel, the United States, China. Why not leave our mark by adding Australia to the list?”
    Eidan stopped behind Scarlet, leveled his gaze on Sinnder, and popped open a knowing smile,