Free Breaking Free by Brandy L Rivers

do not. That boy is smarter than you imagine.”
    “Boy?” She snorted. “He’s twice my age.”
    “The boy is an innocent. No matter what we do to him, or force him to do, he is still pure. We have yet to break him.”
    Her growl was full of frustration. “Fine. Where are you sending me?”
    “To Seattle. To our contact with the Silver Council. You will get what we need from him.”
    “And what is that?” The bitterness in her tone was sweet to his ears.
    “A soul prison. You are to rescue your maker. Expect him to be in an extra foul mood when he’s pulled from his new realm . I understand Fallon O’Shea did quite a number on him.”
    “O’Shea?” Sarah asked slowly. “As in Devlin O’Shea?”
    “Indeed. Devlin has a sister.” He had more information he could share, but he wanted Malachi freed first. He didn’t trust Sarah not to find herself again. Malachi had successfully wormed his way into her head and twisted her memories, and her goals, into something sick and corrupt. Sarah had fought for her humanity until Malachi found the perfect way to break her.
    “ Devlin has a sister?” Sarah confirmed.
    “ He does. Fallon is crucial to our plans. First, we need Malachi.”
    “What do I need to do?” Her tone had improved at last.
    “Go to Seattle. Meet Lamar. Convince him to bring you the soul prison by any means necessary. He likes it rough.”
    “Rough I can do,” she answered with a thrill in her voice before hanging up.
    DeMarco shook his head, the wisps of white hair brushing his shoulders. That Shadowstalker was trouble. Sarah still wanted her husband back. A man who believed she was dead, and was newly married to the woman DeMarco needed to complete the rituals. He needed Sarah to stay away from Edenton long enough to get what he wanted.
    No matter how this turned out, he expected a blood -fest. He could hardly wait.

Chapter 8
     
     
    Closing his eyes, Devlin took a deep breath and let it out slowly. When he opened his eyes, he wanted to get lost in Jamie’s gaze, but he began to explain the best he could.
    “I was seven when Dad realized DeMarco was closing in on us. He said goodbye to Mom before bloodoathing the two of us to keep Fallon from learning Dad and I were alive.”
    “What do you mean? Couldn’t you have gone up to her at the wedding and introduced yourself?”
    He shook his head. “No, it’s more complicated. I physically cannot tell Fallon I’m her brother. The words can’t leave my lips unless she figures it out.” He let out a short breath and shook his head. “I couldn’t even tell you until you figured it out.”
    “You look exactly like her. She’ll figure it out when she sees you.”
    “Doubtful. I don’t want her to know everything I’ve been through. She doesn’t need that, Jamie. She’s happy, and has been through enough hell.”
    Jamie sat down beside him and took his hands. “Not as much as you, Devlin. You didn’t deserve any of it either.”
    “I know.”
    “Now, what do you mean doubtful? Why don’t you think she would recognize you?”
    “I visited her dreams for years, and she never once guessed who I was. Through a dream was the only way to contact her. Thankfully , by the time Dad figured out I was dreamwaking with her, I had found a way to prevent him from bloodoathing me from visiting my sister.”
    “How long did the Dales have you?”
    “Twenty years. Dad was brilliant at running. We were always two steps ahead. That is until his depression started. Most of the time he was fine, but sometimes he would drown himself in alcohol. There were a few close calls, until he was finally captured. That’s when you found me in my dreams. Reliving how my captivity began.”
    “Fallon said you stopped visiting her. Was that why?”
    Devlin paused. “Yes, but how do you know?”
    She blushed, her eyes dropping to her lap. “I mentioned you. Well, not your name . I told Fallon and Jess that I kept dreaming about a man I couldn’t get out of