Read Online The Turncoats (The Thirteenth Series #2) by G.L. Twynham - Free Book Online Page B

future, not the Sam from her past. There were no romantic ties here and she must keep that in mind.
    He pulled a chair out for Val to sit down. “So how’s it all going?”
    “Well, apart from meeting my hunter who’s turning out to be a great guy, catching a load of prisoners at the Snakes and Ladders, and casting a spell to protect the shop, it’s quite boring. Ah yes, and let’s not forget the high priestess that was kidnapped by Excariot yesterday. But you know about that and thanks for the books.” Val shoved a piece of celery into her mouth.
    “A spell to protect the shop… Did Wendy and her friends do that for you?” Sam seemed interested and so Val began to explain as they chatted over lunch, and for a short while she felt at ease.
    Sam had cleared away the table and gone to get the puddings. Val was standing in the dining room’s open patio door when the doorbell rang. “Val, I have my hands full, can you get that?” he called through.
    “Ok,” she replied, making her way to the front door.
    To her surprise, Zac was standing on the other side. “What are you doing here?” She was annoyed that he was disturbing her normality.
    “We have to work. Now.” Zac grabbed her arm. The blue spark flickered and they were gone.
    Wendy ran down the shop towards the centre of operations, also known as the cleaning cupboard. “Jason, Fran, help.”
    “What’s up?” Jason asked, opening the door. He could tell by her expression that something was happening, and it wasn’t good.
    “Zac’s watch thing just started to purr, then he stood up and poof, blue spark, gone. Not even a goodbye. You don’t think he’ll do anything silly, like try to go it alone?” Wendy asked in an exasperated tone.
    “First let’s check on Val.” Jason grabbed his chair and span to a halt in front of the laptop. “Looks like she’s still in Arcsdale.” As he spoke the computer sprang into life, numbers flashing and whizzing across the screen. “I take that back. Zac has obviously found her.” They all watched patiently for her to re-appear.

C HAPTER 4
The Price of Fame
     
    Val landed, as usual, on the ground, knees first this time, christening her new jeans in soft wet mud.
    “What exactly are you doing?!” she yelled at Zac who landed as if he had just jumped off of a five-inch curb.
    “Our job.” Zac grabbed her arm, lifting her to her feet, then placed his finger on her lips to keep her quiet.
    “Get the hell off of me! I’ll shout if I want to. I was having lunch. Can’t I even have five minutes away from the chaos?” Val shoved Zac’s hand away and finished brushing herself down. “Ruined. I just put these on today. I’m not made of money, you know. I don’t even know if I have a washing machine.” Val was so mad that her face glowed beetroot red.
    “Duck!” Zac called, but it was too late. Two middleaged women of medium build, dressed as if they were out hiking, launched themselves from behind a bush and landed on Val’s back. She collapsed back onto the ground with a startled ‘poof’ of expelled air. If she had been mad before it now intensified tenfold as she rolled in the mud trying to escape the two crazy brunettes who were trying to finish her off with their fists.
    This time, Val didn’t have to wait for that warning sensation in her arms and hands. She simply knew she was going to blow these ladies away. They were responsible for ruining her first date with Sam. She scrambled to her feet and turned to tackle them, but one reached forward, grabbing her ankle and pulling her down again, while the other struck her repeatedly. That was when she snapped. She swung her arms around yelling “Off!” and a powerful gust of wind escaped her palms, hurling both her assailants across the ground, through several bushes and, for the time being, out of sight. Her powers were growing in intensity and her speed and confidence in her ability were increasing along with them. Val leapt to her feet, calling