A chair scraped across the floor and drew Carl’s attention. Veridian scooted over to sit closer to Kayla, shaking his head sadly.
“I should have been there. I should have gone to Leo immediately to see if she’d gone back. Why didn’t she tell me where she went?”
Jinx’s hand dropped to Veridian’s shoulder. The growing affection between them was obvious. Jinx rubbed his shoulder. “She probably just needed some alone time.”
Veridian hung his head. “She thinks I betrayed her. You didn’t see her face, Jinx. She was furious with me when I went to Leo’s camp.”
Jinx opened her mouth, but Carl held up his hand to stop her. This was his fault, and he’d accept the blame and responsibility. “You’re wrong, Veridian. Kayla loves you. She didn’t want to tell you because she was avoiding me. It had nothing to do with you. Your messages were the only ones she responded to.”
Veridian looked up at him and his eyes grew cold. The protectiveness Carl had witnessed before came flaring to the surface. “Then you need to fix whatever happened between you two. I’ll encourage Kayla to leave your camp before I’ll risk losing her if it comes down to it. She’s the only family I have left. I won’t lose her because of you or OmniLab.”
Carl’s mouth formed a hard, thin line, but he gave a curt nod, unable to blame Veridian for being upset.
Carl looked down at Kayla again and put his hand over hers in a solemn oath. “I intend to fix this. I won’t lose her either.”
Kayla woke up to the beeping of a vital sign monitor and squinted against the harsh light in the medical room. Carl was sitting beside her, watching her anxiously.
“Hey there,” he said softly as her eyes focused on him. “How are you feeling, sweetheart?”
She frowned and blinked at him, assessing her condition. Her throat was dry and her shoulder ached, but she was alive. She moved to sit up slowly, and Carl leaned over to help her. Glancing around the small room, she groaned. “Crap. I hate being in Medical. How did I get back here?”
“We brought you back to treat your shoulder. You passed out. Mack and Leo weren’t going to let me take you, but Kristin and Veridian argued with them. Leo finally relented. Mack was still pretty pissed though. He’s not one of my biggest fans.”
“Yeah, I noticed,” Kayla muttered and rubbed her eyes as she recalled the events that had occurred in Leo’s camp. Was she really ready to be back here and face everything?
She looked up at Carl, who was watching carefully. His face was unreadable, but it didn’t escape her notice that he’d gotten up to stand between her and the door. Was he worried she’d run again?
“You dislocated your shoulder and tore the ligaments. Mack said he reset it in the field but there was still some damage. Is it feeling better now? The regeneration finished about thirty minutes ago.”
Kayla gingerly stretched her arm and tried to rotate her shoulder. It felt better, but it was still sore. Instead of the sharp pain from earlier, it now felt as though she’d just had an extensive workout. “Yeah, I’m just a little sore and really thirsty.”
Carl reached over and grabbed a hydrating pack from the counter. He handed it to her, and she took a long drink. The cool liquid helped wake her up a bit more.
“We flushed the alcohol out of your system. You’ve also got some nasty bruises, and the skin on your arm and leg is raw. It’s healing, but we were focusing on your shoulder first.” Carl leaned over and carefully removed the vital sign monitor. “You want to tell me how you got hurt?”
Kayla scrunched up her nose and made a face. Not particularly. Every time she recounted the story, it made her feel like more of an idiot. What kind of ruin rat couldn’t even stay upright on their own bike? “It was stupid. I was driving and not really paying attention. I thought I saw something in the middle of the road. I swerved, lost control of the bike, and had to lay it down.”
Carl remained silent. She frowned, not able to remember whether she’d said something about the ghost when she’d been drinking. Either way, no way was she going to admit to it while she was sober.
Carl sighed and dropped the monitor into the drawer. “I’m just glad you’re all right.”
So was she. Carl turned back and searched her face. Her throat suddenly felt dry again. Their stupid fight haunted her. Kayla didn’t like this distance between them, but she wasn’t sure how to fix it.
Whatever he saw in her expression made him take a step toward her. He brushed her hair away from her face, tucking it behind her ear. Kayla leaned into his hand, relishing the tenderness in his touch. He trailed his fingers down the line of her jaw and dropped his gaze to her mouth as he grazed her lower lip with his thumb. Her breath hitched at the longing on his face. She was a complete and total dumbass for trying to push him away.
“I’m sorry, Kayla. I thought… God, I was so stupid. I shouldn’t have said those things to you or asked you to make a choice like that. I never meant to hurt you. I was just so damn frustrated.”
The pain in his eyes felt like a lance through her heart. “Carl, I…” Kayla looked away, needing to get her emotions under control.
“Sweetheart, talk to me.” He sat next to her. “Give me a chance to fix this.”
Kayla squeezed her eyes shut. Why was it so hard to tell him how she felt? She’d never been good at talking about things. It was as if saying the words made everything more real and put into perspective everything she could lose. The thought of losing Carl terrified her.
She bit her lip and forced herself to open her eyes and meet his concerned gaze. “I—I don’t know what to do, Carl. I know everything with Alec and the stupid energy stuff is tearing you apart. It’s hurting me too. This is why I didn’t want to go back to the towers in the first place.”
Carl took her hand and kissed it lightly. Goose bumps broke out along her arm at his touch. She wanted to throw herself into his arms and just pretend the entire thing never happened.
“I know, sweetheart. I won’t ask you to go back there again. If you want to stay on the surface indefinitely, we can do that. I don’t want to lose you.”
She withdrew her hand. After everything that had happened, Kayla wasn’t sure she deserved him. She folded her hands in her lap and lowered her gaze. “I need to tell you something. You may not still feel that way after you hear it.”
Carl’s expression was guarded as he waited for her to continue. Kayla took a deep breath and tried to gather the courage to say what she needed to tell him. Her stomach began doing nauseating flip flops, but she tried to ignore it. “Before I went to see you at the café, I was working with Alec in his office. We… Well, I kissed him again and things got a little intense between us.”
Carl froze, and his entire body stiffened. Anger and hurt flashed in his eyes. “Does this mean you want to be with him?”
Kayla shook her head, wanting to make him understand. “No, I don’t. I want to be with you. That’s what I’ve always wanted. I care about Alec, but it’s not the same. Whenever he starts doing that stupid energy channeling thing, I feel like a different person. All I can think about is the way the energy feels. I can’t control it, and what’s worse is I can’t promise it won’t happen again. I wish I could, but it feels like this overwhelming force pulling me toward him. He keeps telling me I’ll eventually be able to control it, and maybe that’s true, but I can’t spend years trying to master this damn thing when he’s in my head and pouring energy over me.”
“Wait a minute,” Carl interrupted and put his hand over hers again. The small gesture helped to reassure her that maybe they could work through this. “Kayla, I know this wasn’t the first time you kissed him. But I want you to think very carefully for a minute. Have you ever kissed him when he wasn’t channeling energy in your direction?”
Kayla was thoughtful for a moment and then shook her head. “No. It’s only when our energy mixes. As soon as it stops, my brain starts working again.”
“Does he know this?”
“Yeah,”
she said slowly, recalling Alec’s words. “He wanted me to learn to recognize the different types of energy. When I sent energy back toward him to increase it, that’s when he kissed me. I didn’t realize sending energy back through our connection was an invitation to have sex.”
Carl’s hand reflexively tightened over hers. “Did you?”
“No! It didn’t get that far. Alec stopped and told me he wouldn’t share me with you. When I realized what almost happened, I kind of freaked out.”
Carl ran his hand over his face. “I know you care about Alec. I’m trying not to say anything bad about him in front of you, but he’s had years to master this energy crap. He must know damn well what he’s doing to you. You’re inexperienced, and I suspect he’s using that to get what he wants.”
She started to argue, but Carl put his finger against her lips. “Hang on. I don’t think that scene in the café was a coincidence. I can’t prove it yet, but after you left, we started arguing. I know you said it was your idea to come to the café, but Alec knew way too much about my relationship with Leah. I don’t think it was a coincidence she bumped into me that morning. I think he somehow engineered the whole situation in the hopes you would get jealous and go running to him. Unfortunately, it backfired and you ran away from both of us.”
Kayla frowned, wondering if it were possible. She recalled how Alec had suddenly changed his mind about going with her to tell Carl about the water sample results. She’d known he was hiding something from her. Could that be it?
“Why would he do something like that?”
“Because he wants you,” Carl said in frustration. “If I’m out of the picture, he thinks you’ll willingly go to him. The only reason Alec hasn’t gone after me outright is because he knows it’ll push you away. He admitted that much to me. So he’s trying to manipulate things in any way possible, either through energy or jealousy, to get what he wants.”
“That doesn’t make sense,” she argued. “When I feel his emotions and feelings, they seem sincere. Alec wouldn’t do anything to hurt me.”
Carl nodded and squeezed her hand. “I’m sure he cares about you, sweetheart, but he’s also a man used to getting his way. I suspect, for the first time in his life, he sees something he wants and believes he’s entitled to have, and it infuriates him that he can’t have you.”
Kayla sighed and leaned back. It was too much. “I don’t know how to feel about all of this. I don’t want to go back to the towers until I can figure it out. I’m worried about the threats against him though.”
Carl brushed a kiss against her forehead. “Don’t worry about the threats. Alec has a host of people working security for him. We’re both more concerned about you and making sure you’re safe. I think the biggest question is whether you’re going to stay here or go back to Leo’s camp.”
Kayla winced, not sure how to answer that. She didn’t know who she even was anymore. “I don’t want to leave you, but I don’t want to keep hurting you either. I thought just getting away from everything for a while would help. At least when I’m in Leo’s camp, I’m just another ruin rat.”
Carl paused and considered her for a long moment. She could almost see his mind working. “I see. You wanted to just go back to your old life and forget everything?”
Kayla shrugged. Not everything. Just some of it. “It sounded like a good plan at the time. The execution didn’t go quite as well as I’d hoped.”
Carl sighed and rubbed his hands over his face. “Kayla, you know that won’t happen. It doesn’t matter where you go. You’re still a Rath’Varein. You can’t change that.”
“I know,” she said in exasperation and pulled away from him. “I’m reminded every single damn day. If I’m not in the towers with people staring at me, I’m getting all sorts of equipment and gifts from Alec. I’m tired of the special treatment and bullshit. I’m not a fucking princess.”
Carl winced at her words. “I shouldn’t have said that to you.”
Kayla slid off the examination table. She really wanted to break something. “It doesn’t matter whether you said it or not. That’s what people think, and it’s not me. I grew up just like Kristin, Marie, and Mack. I’m not any better than them or anyone else. It doesn’t matter who my parents were or whether I can channel energy.” She whirled around. “If any one of them had hurt themselves, would you have brought them here to fix them up? Or am I just some Omni obligation?”
Carl didn’t blink. “I would have done what I did regardless of your status in the towers. I love you, Kayla.”
His words made her pause, and her anger dissolved. She nodded and exhaled slowly. “Yeah, you would have. I shouldn’t be yelling at you about this. You tried protecting me even when you thought I was just a ruin rat.”
Carl put his arms around her, drawing her close. She leaned against him and curled her fingers into his shirt. The sound of his heartbeat was a soothing balm.
“You’re absolutely right about what you said, sweetheart. Your unique perspective gives you the ability to see things on a larger scale. I think a lot of people in the towers have forgotten about the world outside of those walls.”
“They’re mostly just a bunch of self-absorbed idiots,” she muttered in irritation. “Kristin’s pregnant again, and even though she didn’t say anything, she’s scared. If there’s a way I can keep all of them safe, I’m going to do it. They’ve worked their asses off every single day just trying to survive. Those idiots up in those towers wander around and window shop. They play their little political games and are obsessed with their power. There’s a whole world outside that doesn’t ever touch them.”
“Kayla, what you’re saying is true, and I agree that changes need to be made,” Carl began. “But you’re also talking about an institution which has been in existence for over two centuries. A lot of people are going to be resistant to change. I think your tower idea for the ruin rats was a great start though.”
“You do?”
He nodded. “I’ve seen what it’s like here on the surface. Most of the people in the towers don’t have any idea. It’s definitely something we should explore. Even if the tower idea doesn’t pan out, there are other ways we could help them.”
He brushed another kiss against her forehead. “But right now, you need to hold off on saving the world and take care of yourself first. If you keep injuring yourself, you won’t be able to help anyone. You need to get some rest and let your shoulder finish healing.”
Too tired to argue, Kayla merely nodded in agreement. He took her hand and led her out into the common room. Cruncher, Brant, Veridian, and Jinx were sitting at the table together. The conversation halted when they entered, and Veridian stood.
Kayla lowered her head, hating the look of apprehension on her scavenging partner’s face. “V, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean what I said back at Leo’s camp.”
Veridian let out a breath and walked over to her, enveloping her in a hug. “I was worried about you,” he admitted. His expression was stern as he added, “Don’t you dare do that again. Promise me you’ll tell me where you are next time. We’re family, Kayla.”
Shame flooded through her. Kayla bit her lip and nodded. Of all people, she shouldn’t have ignored Veridian and put him through that. She would have killed him if he’d done the same to her. His shoulders relaxed at her agreement.
“Are you feeling better now?”
“Yeah.” She looked over at the table where Brant was sitting and stiffened at the sight of the Omni security officer. “What the hell is he doing here?”
Brant rose from his chair. “I was hoping to speak with you if you’re feeling better.”
Kayla scowled. There wasn’t any reason she could think of that would make his presence acceptable. If he was trying to convince her to return to the towers, he was in for a disappointment. She still had a lot of contacts in the ruin rat world. She could easily hop camps for the next several months and stay off OmniLab’s radar indefinitely.
Carl put his a
rm around her waist and drew her close. Whether it was to keep her from running again or pummeling the Omni, she wasn’t sure. Was she really becoming that predictable?
“Let’s go into my office and at least hear what he has to say,” Carl suggested and led the way down the hall. In a voice too low for Brant to hear, he added, “You can always get rid of him later.”
Kayla frowned but nodded. They entered the office, and she took a seat on the edge of the desk while Carl positioned himself next to her.
Brant’s gaze darted around the office before centering on Kayla. She tapped her fingers impatiently against the desk, eager to be done with the conversation so she could tell him where to stick it. The thought that he was going to try meddling in her affairs pissed her off.
“Thank you for speaking with me. As I mentioned to you before you left the towers, Master Tal’Vayr is concerned about your safety,” Brant began and clasped his hands behind his back. “I was asked to assist Trader Carl in locating you and to make sure you’re safe. Master Tal’Vayr is aware you’ve returned to the trading camp. If you’ve decided not to return to the towers at this time, he’s requested that you allow me to remain here for the time being.”
Kayla paused, surprised at his words. “I have a choice?”
“You do,” Brant admitted with a frown. “Master Tal’Vayr is willing to discuss it with you, but the decision rests solely in your hands. If you do not want me to remain, I’ll return to the towers. If you allow me to stay, he’s instructed me to not interfere with any of your decisions. I will simply act as a security consultant until the threat against both of you is eliminated.”
Carl sighed and crossed his arms over his chest. “Alec’s good. I’ll give him that much.”
Brant looked irritated at Carl’s remark but remained silent. Kayla looked up at Carl in confusion. “What do you mean?”
Carl shook his head and didn’t elaborate. Kayla frowned at him and then shrugged. “I don’t care. Do what you want. It’s not my place to make your decisions for you.”
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