Read Online Storm: The Empire Chronicles by Alyssa Rose Ivy - Free Book Online

Volcano? I had a feeling I didn’t want to know.
    “What’s in them?” Jared gestured to the large purple glasses the bartender was filling up from the various bottles. None of them had labels. There was no way the health department had checked out this place in a while.
    Nadia tilted her head to the side. “Vodka and a few other things.”
    “It’s the few other things that worry me.” Jared leaned away from her slightly.
    Nadia shrugged. “You’re a Pteron, what could any of it do to you?”
    “She’s not a Pteron.” He touched my arm. The contact was warm and comforting, the way his touch always seemed to be.
    “You think I want to drug your friend?” Nadia asked incredulously. “She’s the only reason you’re having a drink with me.”
    I nodded, pretending to agree even though I didn’t. She wanted Jared, and I realized drugging me and getting me out of the way could give her easier access. I’d accept the glass, but I wasn’t ingesting a single drop of it.
    The bartender set down the three glasses, and we each took one. No money exchanged hands, which made me wonder if Nadia had a permanent tab there or something. I wasn’t curious enough to ask. I’d taken plenty of free drinks before in my life.
    Nadia led the way over to an empty table tucked behind one of the gray rock walls.
    “Interesting décor.” I attempted polite conversation as I slid into a white plastic seat.
    Nadia laughed. “It grows on you.”
    “You get used to looking at yourself from every direction?” Jared watched his reflection in the mirror directly in front of us.
    “I wouldn’t think you’d mind the view.” Nadia rested her hand on the white lacquer finished table.
    “Are you implying I’m vain?” He turned to her.
    “I’m implying you’re easy on the eyes.”
    “Oh.” Jared moved in his seat as though he were trying to find a comfortable spot. He was nervous. I didn’t like him being nervous. He was supposed to be cool and confident. We needed that more than ever. I always needed to be in control, but I couldn’t be. Not this time.
    “It’s really cool what you did back there.” I pulled the conversation back to magic. It was the only reason we were sitting in this mirrored place.
    “Manipulating his mind?” Nadia sipped her drink.
    “Yes. I’ve never seen anything like that.” I laid it on, hoping it had its desired effect.
    Nadia pursed her lips. “Humans miss out on a lot.”
    I swallowed down the part about me being a bear. I didn’t need to draw attention to that. “Is it hard?”
    “It’s a skill that comes naturally to us.” She lifted her chin.
    “That’s cool. What else can you do?” I hoped my interest was coming off as normal.
    “Almost anything.”
    “Really?” I leaned forward on my elbows.
    “Yes.” She smiled.
    “Can you make love potions?” I picked up my drink as though I were going to drink it.
    “Of course. That’s easy.”
    “How about make someone freeze in place?” I set down my drink. Hopefully she’d missed that I didn’t actually drink it.
    “Easy.”
    “Can you time travel?” I tried to give enough examples to make the time travel thing sound natural.
    She set down her drink. “Most can’t.”
    “But can you?” Jared leaned toward her slightly.
    She looked all around us. “It’s not something I’m going to advertise. I could get in a lot of trouble."
    “You must be crazy powerful to do that.” I hoped I was hitting the right mix of impressed yet normal.
    “My family is one of the most powerful around.”
    “Why can’t you tell anyone about it?” I asked.
    “It’s a sign of our power. The Society would probably want to use me or destroy me.” She gave Jared a look. “Don’t even think of turning me in or I’m spilling what Hailey is up to.”
    Jared held up his hands. “Your secret is safe with me.”
    “Could you show us how you do it?”
    “You have a hankering to go back in time?” She tapped her purple nails on the