Read Online The Siege of Kadenburg by T. E. Ridener - Free Book Online Page A

have to,” Mrs. Kress frowned. “There’s a blizzard going on out there. I don’t believe we’ll have any customers.”
    “It is?” Greg pushed himself up from his bed, moving to the window to peer outside. There was at least a foot of snow on the ground already. Whoa. Why couldn’t they have snow days like this when he was in school?
    “We’re not even going to bother with opening tomorrow,” his mother replied as she made herself comfortable in his computer chair. She watched him closely, the worry still evident in her eyes. “It would be a good day for sleeping in, don’t you think?”
    “I don’t sleep much,” Greg mumbled. That was the truth. Sleeping meant having bad dreams he couldn’t even remember. He’d woken up in a cold sweat more than once, and it took a while for his body to stop shaking. Perhaps he couldn’t recall what had happened to him while he was in that hospital, but there was a part of his mind that did. He wasn’t sure he ever wanted to remember.
    “I think you need to talk to Beau about that,” Mrs. Kress commented gently as she toyed with her wedding band. “I think he could help-”
    “He’s a doctor, not a psychiatrist,” Greg snapped. It happened before he could stop himself, and he instantly felt bad. His brows furrowed as he leaned against his computer desk and allowed his head to fall back. “I’m not crazy or anything, Mom. I’m dealing with it, okay? I’ll be fine.”
    “How can you be sure of that?” His mother asked softly. “How can you know that a month from now, you’ll be okay? Who’s to say that by this time next year, you aren’t more wolf than bear? What happens then, Gregory?”
    “I’ll figure it out when I get there,” Greg replied through clenched teeth. He couldn’t explain it, but there was a certain anger creeping through his veins. His entire body trembled as he gripped the edge of his computer desk. The thick wood gave in to his strength and that’s when he understood he needed to get out. “I need to go, Mom,” Greg whispered as he moved towards the door. “I’ll be back in a while.”
    “But it’s snowing, Greg!” His mother gasped, right on his heels as he headed for the doorway. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I didn’t mean to upset you. I just worry for you.”
    “Well, worry less!” Greg shouted angrily, turning his head to glance at her briefly before he opened the front door. A cold gust of wind and snow immediately entered the house and Mrs. Kress shivered.
    “Please be careful,” She pleaded in broken sobs. “Don’t stay out for long, Baby.”
    There was a part of him that knew this was extreme; a part that told him he needed to calm down. But there was also a part of him demanding release and he couldn’t ignore it. The wolf and bear within battled constantly, and Greg had no idea who would emerge as the victor.
    He needed to find his happy place. He needed to find her.
    ——————————-
    “I t’s really coming down out there,” Mrs. Bamey whispered as she closed the blinds and turned to gaze at her husband worriedly. “We’ve not had a snow like this before. The weather is ridiculous.”
    “We always get a good blizzard every few years, Charlotte. I wouldn’t worry about it,” Mr. Bamey grunted as he rolled over on the mattress to stare at her. “Come back to bed.”
    “I can’t sleep,” she sighed, hugging her arms around herself as she paced back and forth. “Something is coming.”
    “It’s come and gone and will undoubtedly be back again, but you still need rest. It ain’t healthy how you’ve been up at all hours of the night, honey. Just come over here and let me hold you for a while.”
    “Do you think Natalie is okay?”
    Mr. Bamey blinked, “Natalie? Why are you thinking about Natalie?”
    “I just want to make sure she’s okay,” Mrs. Bamey frowned. “What if she doesn’t have any power? What if this storm gets worse and we’re all left in the dark? Her