Free Scorched Fury: A SkinWalker Novel #5 (DarkWorld: SkinWalker) by T.G. Ayer

dark eyes as he stared at me. "Kai. Promise me you will find her. She needs me. She needs you. Please. Promise me."
    His words tumbled from his lips, as if in that moment of lucidity, he was desperate to get everything out. I grabbed his hand, ignoring the spreading golden glow of his skin. "I'll find her. If that's what you want, Logan. I'll find her."
    Logan took a ragged breath. "I don't know what's happening to me. My mind . . . it's breaking. She's here . . . with me." He tapped a finger at his temple. "But I know she isn't. She's in danger, Kai. You must find my sister."
    Before I could respond, Logan's body lifted from the bed, his back arching as if live energy surged through him. He fell to the mattress, then rose again and I shivered with fear.
    The machines blared around me and I was relieved that I didn't have to scream for my father. Because in that moment I knew I was incapable of making a sound. Logan's hand was now covered with the pulsing flame, his skin continuing to glow with his fire.
    My father rushed into the room, his eyes scanning the machines with practiced calm. Footsteps trailed him and someone else entered. I got to my feet and stood aside, watching my father rush to a small cart beside the bed. He lifted a set of paddles and reached for Logan's shirt, baring his chest.
    "Stop." I didn't realize it was me who'd screamed the plea out loud.
    Not until my father asked, "Kai? What's the matter with you?" He sounded angry that I'd dared to stop him. But I had to.
    "You don't understand, Dad. He is living energy." I pointed to Logan's arm. "His fire is inside him, and it wants out. That machine, it's electric energy. We don't know what supercharging him with electricity would do. We could kill him. Or kill all of us."
    My father took a step away, placing the paddles onto the cart before rushing around the bed to check Logan's vitals.
    "That was good thinking, Kai. Thank you. I never would have thought about it." Dad paused and stared at me. "I could have killed him."
    I shook my head. "I think it's only happening because I'm here. He spoke to me . . . to tell me something."
    "You think he's awake?"
    "Not consciously . . . I think he senses me, some part of him knows I'm here and he's trying to tell me something." I got to my feet. "I think it's time I got Darcy over here."
    Dad nodded and came to stand beside me. "Kai. I know you don't want to hear this-"
    I cut him off with a raised hand. "I know what you're going say, Dad. He could very well die. I understand that. I even accept that. But whatever it is he wants me to do, I know I have to do it. No matter what it takes. He's tormented. And if I can help lessen that pain even a little then I'll do it. No matter what."
    Dad put his arm around my shoulders. "You need to be strong, Kai. But we're all here for you." As I allowed my father to comfort me, my eyes drifted over his shoulder to the door.
    And to Lily, sitting on the floor, her face white with shock as she stared at Logan. She didn't even register my attention, her eyes focused entirely on Logan, too terrified to come closer, too terrified to leave.
    "How long has she been coming," I whispered into Dad's ear.
    "Two weeks now," he said softly. He didn't need to say more.
    Now I knew where Lily had been disappearing to all this time.

CHAPTER 11

A FTER A NIGHT OF TOSSING AND turning, I rose more determined than ever. I had to make a short stop at the Elite HQ.
    I smiled bitterly as I thought about Omega. Only a few weeks ago Sentinel and Omega had run our lives. Now, the Supreme High Council had put Omega aside, with the entire agency being investigated on charges ranging from human and paranormal rights violations, illegal experimentation, sedition, to treason. Heads had already begun to fall, but I'd paid little attention.
    Inside HQ, I paced the beautiful carpet outside Supreme High Councilman David Horner's office, waiting only minutes before his assistant Barb exited, giving me a pleasant