If only you knew.
Upon their return, the teens and gliders agreed they needed more than a day to rest and recuperate. Atu used the opportunity to go scavenging for herbs and roots for his potions, while Jaden and Kayla spent precious moments making the most of the time with their families. With every day threatening imminent departure, they were ever cognizant of the fact they might never see their families again.
Then the day Jaden had dreaded arrived. Their gliders, completely healed, became restless and insisted they leave.
Before resigning himself to his fate, Jaden wrangled permission from the fidgety bats for one last trip to the Shadow Mountains with his closest friends and their families. Not only did he want to see them again before they left, but it was an excellent opportunity for Atu, Kayla, and Kayla’s parents to meet everyone.
When he pinged Markov to float the idea almost a week after they got back, his friend had ragged him about the lack of comms. Jaden fumbled through an explanation about visiting his gran, then muddled on to invite Markov and his family on the hike. Yeah, I have to agree. I’m not acting like myself at all.
Markov watched the play of emotions on Jaden’s face before leaning toward him conspiratorially. “Is this about Kayla?”
The question was so unexpected, Jaden laughed out loud. And of course, she had everything to do with this. But not in the way he knew Markov meant. Although it gave him an easy way out of all the questions. He shoved Markov playfully. “So what if it is?”
Markov almost fell off the log. He stared at Jaden. “Dude, have you been working out on the sly?”
Jaden mentally cursed himself. He hadn’t meant to exercise any of his newfound strength. But that boat had sailed. “Sorry. Guess the training we’ve been doing with Atu is paying off.”
Markov eyed him. “Yes, then there’s that.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Are you abandoning your childhood friends for strays? You go incommunicado for days, and then, when you touch base, you not only have a girlfriend but also some new trainer in tow?”
“It’s not like that. Atu is Kayla’s friend, visiting from the Dedorian sector. Besides, if I was abandoning you, you think I would’ve asked you on this hike?”
Markov grinned, a wicked gleam in his eyes. “They say actions speak louder than words. And you are just sitting here, all alone. You haven’t joined us in a game yet.” He gave it a second. “Afraid of losing in front of your girlfriend? And yeah, I noticed you didn’t deny that.”
This time Jaden did shove Markov off the log, chuckling as he did. “Oh, so it’s like that, is it?”
“He giving you a hard time?”
Kayla’s voice surprised them both. Jaden pivoted, assessing. How much had she heard? “Nothing I can’t handle,” Jaden said as evenly as he could with his heart racing.
“You sure about that?” Kayla asked, stepping up beside him and deliberately slipping her tiny hand into his.
Jaden spotted the smile tugging at the corner of her lips when his eyes widened.
Without missing a beat, Kayla said, “Markov seems like a guy you have to keep an eye on.”
Markov smirked. “I was right then. You two lovebirds going to join us or skulk here by yourselves?”
Still reeling from Kayla’s unexpected move, Jaden had no ready reply.
But Kayla took it in stride. “We might.”
Markov chuckled. “Well, don’t wait too long.”
Still chuckling, he strolled back to the game the others had started as soon as they had arrived. Kayla watched him leave, then faced Jaden. “I thought you could do with some help.”
“Is that what this is?” Jaden asked, quirking an eyebrow as he raised their joined hands.
Kayla smiled. “It’s exactly what you think it is.”
Jaden returned the smile cautiously. “And what would that be?”
Her smile turned impish. Rising onto her toes, Kayla planted a soft, brief kiss on his lips. “Does that help clarify things?”
Jaden laughed, his heart soaring. “It does.” Confident of exactly where he stood now, he slowly drew her toward him until she was nestled in his arms. “Let’s try that again, shall we?”
Bending his head, he kissed her, savoring her sweetness. She sighed and melted into him, and his arms tightened around her protectively. Awestruck, Jaden realized that as much as he’d wondered about kissing her, the reality far surpassed his wildest imaginings. She, quite simply, took his breath away. Needing to get his feet back under him, Jaden reluctantly lifted his mouth from hers. Opening his eyes, he gazed down at her. She was grinning like a Cheshire cat.
When she spoke, her voice was a whisper. “Jameson, you sure know how to knock a girl off her feet.”
Jaden chuckled. “Relieved to hear I’m not the only one feeling that way right now.”
Kayla laughed. “Glad I could oblige.”
Leaning forward, Jaden kissed the top of her head, running his hands through her silky hair as he had longed to do so often. She barely reached his shoulders. But what she lacked in height, she surpassed in everything else. Running his hands down the underside of her arms, his fingers glided over her birthmark. “Are you ever going to tell me more about this?”
“Someday,” Kayla murmured, nuzzling into his shoulder.
Hearing someone approaching, Jaden reluctantly dropped his arms and took her hand. “Ready to go kick Markov’s butt now?”
She giggled. “That sounds perfect.”
Meandering back to where the others played their game of grid, they didn’t meet anyone on the forested path. Debating whether he had been hearing things, Jaden forgot all about it as soon as they stepped from the shelter of the trees onto the open area where the game was in progress.
“Took you long enough,” Markov teased.
“Is that any way to encourage someone to join in, or is it meant to chase them away?” Jaden retorted.
Stovan jogged up, grinning. “I’m claiming both of you for our team while he’s running his mouth.”
“You have us,” Kayla said, giggling.
Soon, the game absorbed them, and they ran and laughed with the others. The teams competed fiercely, with the lead swinging between them, victory an elusive imp. When the parents hollered lunch was ready, Markov’s team had just squeaked past Stovan’s.
“Didn’t think you had it in you!” Markov grinned, slapping Jaden on the back as they walked off their improvised field.
Jaden smirked. “What, the ability to kick your sorry butt?”
“That and other things,” Markov said, glancing meaningfully at Kayla. When she joined them, Markov said, “You’re quite the sportswoman. If a short one.”
“Thanks. And I’m not short—just vertically challenged.”
Jaden snorted. “That doesn’t stop her, believe me! Just wait until you get her on an arrowball court. Then you’re in for it—and don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Markov laughed. “I’ll consider myself warned.”
The players trooped over to the picnic tables where Jaden spotted an elaborate cake adorning the closest table. He couldn’t contain his delight. “Bree, is that your doing?”
“How did you guess?” Bree puffed, still out of breath from the game.
“Yum,” Stovan murmured, rubbing his hands gleefully. “Can we start with cake?”
Bree chuckled. “I won’t stop you.”
With a grin that almost split his face in two, Stovan grabbed a plate and headed for the cake. The other famished teens swarmed the tables, collected their own plates, and filled them with the delicious assortment of foods arrayed before them. Plates piled high, they sprinkled themselves amidst the adults, who had wisely garnered food ahead of their ravenous offspring and were already engaged in a lively debate.
The teens picked up on the thread and added their opinions. The debate progressed with proposed arguments and required rebuttals, the tone kept light with raucous ribbing whenever som
eone spouted an unsupported speculation.
Jaden leaned back, watching Kayla soak it in, her intrigue with the easy camaraderie between adults and teens obvious. Then her gaze went to Atu, taking a seat next to her on the side opposite to Jaden. His face expressed his sadness at not having his own family present.
Whispering, Kayla asked, “How are you holding up?”
Atu shrugged. “It beats sitting back in a cave in the desert all by yourself.”
“You know that’s not what I mean,” Kayla said.
“I do.” Atu sighed. “But right now, there’s nothing I can do about my folks not being here. So I’m doing my best to just enjoy the time I have with everyone here—and hoping that, one day, my parents can join us.”
Kayla took his hand. “I hope so too.”
“Thanks. It’s uplifting to have friends who care about me enough to want to find my parents as much as I do.”
Jaden listened to the quiet conversation, grateful Kayla had reached out to Atu. They were just as much a part of his world now as his childhood friends.
Leaning back on his elbows, Jaden surveyed the group as they bantered: Markov, the center of attention as usual; Stovan, quietly keeping the peace; Shianna, bouncing around with her infinite energy; Bree, chuckling at them all; and Tarise, quietly observing.
But as Jaden studied Tarise, he noticed she kept cutting her eyes back to Kayla. And her unusually stormy gaze wasn’t friendly. What’s up with that? If he didn’t know better, he’d say she had an axe to grind with Kayla. Although why that would be, he couldn’t fathom.
“More food?” his mom asked, interrupting his contemplations.
“Absolutely. Atu, you keeping up?”
Atu groaned. “I’m stuffed. I don’t think I could eat another thing.”
“Hope you at least saved room for Bree’s cake—it’s something you don’t want to miss.”
“Maybe later,” Atu murmured, pushing his plate aside and stretching out on the blanket. Closing his eyes, he said, “After a nap.”
Jaden chuckled and then ambled back to the food, helping himself to a second generous portion. Strolling back, he dropped next to Kayla. Biting into his chicken, he remembered the last time he’d eaten chicken up in the mountains. It had been with his parents, and the Gaptors were an unknown entity then.
Sneaking a glance skyward, Jaden didn’t spot their gliders. But he knew they were up there, somewhere close. This trip had not thrilled them, and they argued before finally succumbing to his pleas with about as much grace as hamstrung ballerinas.
But Jaden was thankful they had. He had needed this time, to bask in this fellowship, to treasure the simple pleasures of fine friends and family. These people around him were the reason he couldn’t fail. They would give him the courage he would need in the dark times that were surely coming—the ones he would fight for. He surveyed the group once more. This was where it all began. With family. Where would it end?
Kayla nudged him. “What are you thinking?”
“This,” Jaden said, gesturing toward their friends and family gathered around them, “is all the reason we need to succeed.”
For the second time that day, she took his hand. “We will.” Leaning over to Atu, who had been listening, she grabbed his hand too. “And we’ll find your parents along the way.”
Atu gripped Kayla’s hand. “Yes, we will.”
Sensing someone was watching, Jaden’s gaze roamed until it found Markov’s. Their eyes met. Reading Markov’s expression, Jaden knew he was aware there was more happening than Jaden had let on. Markov wouldn’t tolerate Jaden misleading him.
Darting a glance around the group, it was a relief to confirm Markov was the only one who had witnessed the exchange between the seekers. Returning his gaze to Markov, Jaden found him still watching them. Markov raised an eyebrow. Jaden sighed and nodded his head. The corner of Markov’s mouth tipped up on one side as he half-smiled acknowledgement. Yeah, Jaden knew that look. Markov surely couldn’t wait to hear what he had to say.
Only he would have to wait. No opportunity presented itself that afternoon for Jaden to speak with Markov alone. And when they reached the end of the path leading down from the mountain to the parking area where the families had berthed their transports, there was only time for goodbyes. They all exchanged hugs. With Tarise, Jaden sensed an awkwardness that had never been there before.
Tarise hugged him quickly, then pulled back and stared up at him with her huge gray eyes. “So, you and Kayla, huh?”
Jaden mentally grimaced. Duh, I’m dense! How did I not figure this out before? But there was no way around it. “Yes. I’m sorry, I didn’t realize . . .” He waved a helpless hand in the air.
Tarise shrugged. “It’s nothing.”
Tarise opened her mouth as though she wanted to say more, but then closed it and turned, stomping away. Jaden watched her retreat. The tight set of her shoulders, the grim line of her jaw, and her clenched fists told him it was far from nothing. He scrubbed a hand over his face. Ugh! He hadn’t foreseen this complication. Regrettably, there was nothing he could do about it now.
Turning, Jaden felt that strange, familiar tingle run down his spine. Snapping his head back, he caught Tarise’s face at the window of their terraporter. And he knew. This terrible feeling—it had something to do with Tarise.
Jaden stared after her family’s departing terraporter, hoping she wasn’t planning on doing anything stupid. Then he sighed. What could he possibly do to stop it? When he got these feelings, they were almost always right, despite any attempts he made to negate them. Perhaps treading carefully around her would somehow mitigate whatever she was considering. He debated calling Tarise’s mom and asking her to monitor Tarise. But that would just alarm her. And what if Jaden was wrong? But as he walked away, Jaden couldn’t shake the sense he wasn’t.
The Melmiques and Jamesons waited until the others departed before gathering around Jaden, Kayla, and Atu. The parents had come up together in the Jamesons’ terraporter and would travel home the same way. It had been one of Taz’s stipulations—that the teens travel with them and not in the transports, to keep both them and their parents safe.
“First to arrive and last to leave,” Vicken remarked. “Who would ever have said that of our family?”
Kayla smiled. “Yes, especially the ‘last to leave’ part. We’re not normally in any one place for long.”
Vicken gave the ghost of a smile. “Maybe the time has come to do something about that.”
“Really?” Kayla said, her eyes lighting up. “You mean it?”
“I’m not promising anything. But I like the people here. And it would be an excellent area to set up a base of operations.”
Kayla threw her arms around her father. “Oh, I’d like that very much!” Stepping back, she found her mother smiling. “You knew?”
“Yes. Your father and I have been discussing the possibility for a while now. And with all you three find yourselves involved in, the timing seems right.”
Silence followed her statement. Clara Jameson broke it. “Well, I for one am delighted to hear you hope to settle here. It’ll make all this . . . uncertainty a lot easier to bear.”
Tears welled up unexpectedly in Clara’s eyes. Her husband drew her toward him. “There, there. Jaden, Kayla, and Atu have exceptional helpers up there—and from what they say, the kids are quite amazing themselves.”
Clara tried to smile. “Yes, that’s true. I suppose it’s time we left them to practice whatever Tazanna had in mind.”
The parents embraced each of the teens, warning them to be careful. Then they clambered into the terraporter, and the teens stepped back as the engines fired up and the transport sped away.
“Think they’ll be okay?” Kayla asked, looking a little tearful herself.
Jaden put an arm around her. “Yes, they’ll make it through this. They have each other and that’s more than they had before.”
Atu grinned. “Looks like they aren’t the
only ones.”
Kayla smiled sweetly. “Well, who knows? Zareh said the last seeker is a girl, and maybe she’ll be just your type.”
Atu laughed. “As long as we find her, I don’t really care about much else. It’ll just mean I’m one step closer to finding my parents.”
“I hear you,” Jaden said, clapping him on the back.
Opening the snack bags his mom had left for them, they sat on the rocks edging the parking area and chatted while they ate, waiting out the time it would take the parents to get home. With the time freeze that went into effect with their gliders, they had to delay joining up with their flying friends again until their parents were back home. This way, when they returned, their parents would already be there instead of just starting the trip home. Jaden’s PAL beeped. He glanced at the display. “They’re home. Now where are our gliders?”
On cue, Han, Taz and Aren swooped into view.
“Ready to fly?” Jaden asked.
“Am I ever! I’ve missed it, and the trip up here this morning wasn’t long enough,” Kayla admitted, smiling.
The teens spread out over the vacant parking lot, giving their friends plenty of space to glide by. Aerial connecting, they were airborne in seconds. Glorious, open, empty air. Jaden flung his arms wide, stretching them on either side, indulging in the liberating sensation.
Han grinned. “Enjoying yourself?”
“More than you know.”
“Where to?”
“Well, home will always be our ultimate destination,” Jaden mused. “For now though, why don’t we just settle for the sheer joy of flying?”
Han chortled, his immense frame quaking under Jaden. “Now you’re talking.”
Taz sniffed. “A suitable short-term solution. But after an hour, we must run through some routines.”
“Party pooper,” Kayla teased, rubbing Taz’s neck.
“I didn’t say no,” Taz countered. “I could’ve.”
Jaden, hearing her dismay, took pity on her. “She’s right, you know. We’d better use the time we have wisely.”
Taz smiled at him. “Thank you, Seeker.”
Jaden nodded. He could commiserate, understanding how always being the responsible one felt. Just as the task had fallen to him with Kayla and Atu, it had fallen to Taz with their gliders. And what she had said was true. They needed the practice if they were going to stay sharp. They had to be if they were to stand a chance.
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