Firebrand by P. K. Eden Page A

and fell evenly. The fluttering behind his eyes searched through a thousand visions all bombarding him at once as he tried to find and hone in to Amber’s spirit. Suddenly there it was, a drifting wave of something familiar, circling its way into his mind and heart. A smile curled his lips and his eyes opened slowly.
    “Well?” Serina said impatiently.
    David looked at her, his eyes were clearer than she’d ever seen them. “She did go home. To the only person she thinks she can still trust.” He turned and looked off into the distance through the windshield, lifted his hand and pointed to the setting sun. “She’s that way.”

Chapter Six
    Amber’s homecoming was not at all what she had expected. She’d come looking for answers but the ones she had gotten simply led to more questions. As she walked to the old oak tree with her father, she did not know if she had the strength to ask them.
    “Honey, tell me what you’re thinking,” Marcus asked gently.
    “I love this place, Dad,” Amber replied walking ahead of him. The wind came up and as she approached, the tree appeared to straighten as though welcoming her back. “I always felt so safe here.” She touched the bark and branches swirled around her, leaves lightly brushing her face and her arms.
    “You were.”
    She met his eyes and saw both the tension and the love in them. “Dad, I… There’s so much I don’t understand.”
    “I know. I’m not trying to complicate things but…” He sighed heavily and started over. “You’ve been a gift to me.” He lifted his eyes to the heavens. “And to your adoptive mother. If she were alive today, Erin would know the right thing to say to help you do what you must do.” He leveled her a sad smile. “But I don’t.”
    Her stomach tightened. “Just tell me, Dad. Please. What is this
thing
I have to do?” She felt the sparkle of tears begin.
    “The Triad,” he said, his voice low and heavy with sadness.
    “It’s awful, isn’t it?”
    “I think it could be.” Marcus lowered his head, breaking eye contact. He looked back at her and touched her cheek. “I have some things in the house given to me by your grandfather to help me explain it to you. Bear with me for a little while longer.”
    She nodded. “I will.”
    “I should have planned better,” Marcus said, his voice breaking. He took a quick look around as if inspecting the spot. “I could have had some sort of ceremony or coronation or something.”
    A nervous laugh escaped her throat. “What, there’ll be no crown?”
    He saw the teasing smile she had on her face and returned it. “You always did find a way to make the best of things.” His smile saddened. “So much like Erin that way.” He inhaled sharply at the mention of his wife, the sound one of pain. He reached out as if he wanted to take her hand but he stopped himself.
    Amber responded by sliding her hand into his. When he closed his fingers around hers, she felt warmth spread through her. After a long moment, he gently pulled free. “I’ll only be a second,” he said.
    She smiled and watched him walk toward the house. When he was halfway there, a shiver went up her spine. Like a sudden rush of fear, a foreboding, almost a warning, it drove the warmth from her and made her gasp. She started to run to him but the tree again stirred, lowering its branches and blocking her way in a protective embrace.
    As she struggled against its hold, the wind came up tangling her hair in the small branches near her head. The clouds darkened and rain hung heavy in the air.
    In the distance lightning like none she had ever seen struck the ground sending bursts of static electricity into the air. Her skin felt as if a thousand spiders were scurrying across it each time a blue bolt of light rose from the ground.
    As another spear of light rose, two figures appeared. Cloaks rippling around their bodies as the wind rose, they began to walk slowly toward her. Then suddenly, one pointed back to the