Read Online Open All Hours (Carnival Magic 2) by Eden Royce - Free Book Online Page A

secrets. He just needed a way in.
    Between his high school locker code and the recipe for hollandaise, Arthur saw his opening and slipped inside Vol’s consciousness. He felt the bear’s body jerk then stiffen.
    Fancy meeting you here .
    Get out of my head, Arthur .
    So you know it’s me, then. Good. Now what the hell’s going on ?
    Vol reared up and shook his huge frame, ending with an ear-shattering roar. Arthur managed to hold on to his grasp of Vol despite the man’s efforts to dislodge him. The bear reared up again, crashing through the tender young trees surrounding the clearing and headed for the deeper forestry.
    Arthur held on. I’m asking you nicely here. Don’t force me .
    Vol ignored the warning and continued bounding toward the cover of the larger trees. Arthur didn’t know if he was going to try and scrape him off, but he knew Vol’s reasoning was at an all time low right now. Instead of looking at the memories in his cousin’s mind, Arthur looked up, through the bear’s eyes and saw Ellie. In focusing on keeping his foothold in Vol’s mind, he hadn’t noticed that the bear had made a circle.
    Good God.
    She’d let go of his hand and was pacing around a few feet away from where his body lay against a broad pine. She glanced up at the vibrations and her eyes widened as the huge grizzly headed toward her. Ellie glanced at his body and then back up at the massive creature.
    Shit.
    Don’t run, dove. Don’t run .
    Now he had no choice. Vol had to be shut down right now. Arthur shoved his mind fully into Vol’s, ending conversation and taking over his massive bulk. He forced his will into every muscle, every sinew, every cell of Vol’s body. He felt himself sink down, filling each space and pushing Vol out of the way. Arthur’s mind strained, pulling hard on Vol’s rogue conscience like a rider pulls a horse’s reins.
    Enough !
    The bear halted and lay down, less than ten feet away from Ellie, who rushed back over to Arthur’s body and embraced him. How he wanted to be there for that embrace. But first…
    Man, I’m sorry .
    Arthur tested his connection with his cousin and Vol now seemed to be in control of himself. Arthur pulled back, just a little. You okay ?
    Yeah. I’m…okay. I would never hurt Ellie. I just got a little --
    I know. But I also need to know what’s going on .
    Okay, but let me shift back first. You in my head is skeeving me out. I don’t want you looking at my brain .
    Why not? Nothing much in here . Arthur laughed.
    Out !
    A few minutes later, Vol was back in human form, dressed in his jeans, the only clothing that was intact from his prior rampage. He sat next to Arthur, who was recovering from his journey into Vol’s head.
    “It just blindsided me and I got so -- I don’t know. When Leesa said she didn’t want to be an animal I lost it.” He roughly rubbed his palm over the growth of stubble on his cheeks. “But you brought me down. Not a lot of people can say that.” He paused. “Thanks.”
    “Had to be done.”
    “I know you hate the fact you can’t shift but --” When Arthur stiffened, Vol continued. “But what you can do is amazing. You’re probably stronger than any of us. Don’t let anyone tell you different.”
    “Yeah, well…” He trailed off with a shrug.
    “Yeah, well my ass. Believe it, cuz.”
    “Look, I --” Arthur began.
    Ellie interrupted. “Sorry guys, but I have to chime in here. Leesa is fully human like me and I know how I felt a year ago when I found out about shifters. I can understand her reaction.”
    Both men looked at her, torn between shock and horror.
    “Hear me out,” she continued. “To humans, shifters are something from mythology. Legends. To find out they’re real is huge. It opens up a new world that never existed before. Like if you told me you were from Mars.”
    “Aliens don’t exist,” Vol growled.
    “Exactly what I thought about shape shifters. But thankfully, I had some powerful stuff to take the edge