by AJ Eversley
With another sigh, I rose to my feet. Tugging on the energy I was still learning to detect, I raised the stone, and it hovered at chest-height. The stone weighed on me heavy, and every inch of my powers were wrapped tight around the rock. Anthony slid underneath it.
“This time, I will not move until I tell you the drill is over.” His jaw clenched as he laid his head directly under the rock.
Panic ran through me before I took a deep breath, feeling my powers still holding tight to the stone.
Max began tossing pebbles my way again. I felt them coming. In fact, I sensed them before they had even left his hand, but I couldn’t find a way to hold onto the stone while avoiding the pebble. This time, however, the stakes had been raised, and I kept my focus on the rock over Anthony’s head. Another pebble hit my shoulder, and a larger one came for my temple. As I ducked out of the way, the large stone dropped a foot. I grasp for my powers and reached for the stone, catching it in time before it crushed Anthony’s skull.
“Sawyer…” Anthony warned.
“I’ve got…” Before I could even finish the sentence, another rock hit my head. I growled at Max.
“What? I’m just doing my job.” He smiled a cocky grin.
We’d been at this for days, and I was about done getting pelted by little pebbles all day. I sensed the next one coming. While keeping all my focus and energy wrapped around the stone tight like a harness, I released an outstretched hand, aiming it for the small pebble coming my way. The tiny pebbles’ energy fought against mine, and in a split second, the pebble changed its trajectory and soared back at Max, hitting him square in the forehead.
“Ow!” Max cried out, rubbing where he’d been hit.
I tried to hold in the smile spreading across my face. The stone still hovered safely over Anthony’s head, and he smiled too.
“Excellent.” He nodded.
With the last of my energy nearly spent, I place the rock safety beside Anthony and released the breath I’d been holding. My hands felt tingly and surprisingly sore, but a smile still crept on my face.
“That hurt,” Max complained.
“Try getting that all day for the past five days,” I argued.
There was a red indent where the pebble had hit him, and I fought against my laughter as he rubbed it. His face was scrunched up in anger.
Anthony clapped me on the shoulder. “That was much better. Now we can eat.”
I was happy for the compliment, taking the few I received from him.
I was making to follow Anthony when Max cried out, “A little help?”
“Oh right, sorry.” I jogged back, helping him to his feet and putting my shoulder under his arm while he held on for support.
“It’s all fun and games until someone forgets the cripple.” Max glared, walking gingerly toward the castle. A smile took over though, and I poked him in the chest.
“Want me to use my powers and lift you inside?” I suggested.
“Don’t you dare!” The look of sheer horror on his face had me bursting out with laughter.
Chapter 29
The fact I could smile at all in a time like this with everything going on, it spoke more about Max than me. The way he put me at ease, even at the worst of times, was something I’d never known could exist. The stars sparkled high above as the cool evening air rustled the leaves and sent a chill down my spine. Beside me, Max noticed my shivering and pulled me in closer. I rested my head on his shoulder.
“Back at camp, outside of Kuros, there’s a secret spot up in the canopy roof of the camp. You can see almost every star in the sky from up there,” Max said as his smile danced toward the sky.
My shoulders tensed at the memory of that night when Kenzie had taken me up to that same place. That was one of the last times I’d been with him.
“Did I say something wrong?” Max searched my face, catching my diverting eyes before I eased into his embrace again.
“No, no. Sorry. I was just thinking how amazing it is that these are the same stars, and yet we’re so far away from where we were.”
Max stared at me for a second before he looked back up to the sky. “You’re a bad liar.”
“Whatever. Stop ruining the moment.” I nudged him and silently thanked him for not prying any further.
“Sorry. I didn’t realize there was a moment to be ruined.” Max’s voice was soft in my ear as his breath tickled my neck.
It had been weeks since Kenzie had attacked. My confusion was still present, and I hadn’t found the right words to tell Max how I felt. I didn’t even understand how I was feeling, but he never pushed me to say anything. He didn’t ask any more of me than I was already giving. I wished I could give him more. But right now in this moment, I was comfortable.
We were silent before Max spoke up, “You know, sometimes talking about it helps rather than holding it all inside, until you blow up.”
“You’re one to talk,” I argued.
“Do as I say, not as I do,” Max said with a dramatic sweep of his hand.
He made me chuckle. Still, I shook my head and kept my mouth shut.
“Okay, fine. I’ll go first.” Max twisted his body to face me, wincing at the still healing wound on his side. Soon, he was face-to-face with me, and I had nowhere to look but at him. “I think the stars talk to me.”
“About what?” I asked
“Purpose. And a promise.” He fidgeted with my hand, playing with my fingers. “I spent a lot of time thinking I’d never see another human again. And when I finally did, I realized it was never the right person. Never the one I seemed to be searching for, even if I didn’t know I was searching.” He ran a hand through his hair as he focused his attention on the horizon. “I always felt like the stars spoke to me. They reminded me I wasn’t alone and that they’d always watch over me. But there was always this lingering promise that one day I’d meet someone. I was meant to help that person, and no matter what I did, the stars had willed that person into my life.” He took a moment as he collected his thoughts. “That feeling went away the day I met you.”
I opened my mouth to say something, but he continued before I could get anything out.
“I didn’t want to believe that fate had brought you to me. And part of me even hated you when you first arrived because of the way I saw my dad look at you and the respect you had from everyone. But that promise, that one day I would met the person I was searching for, it’d been fulfilled. And all that was left was a promise I had made to myself to help that person in whatever way I had to.”
“You don’t have to promise me anything, Max. You don’t need to take care of me,” I said.
He was already shaking his head. “That’s not it. I’m not doing this for you. It’s for me.”
I went to protest, but he put his hand up.
“There’s something deep down inside of me that keeps telling me I made a promise, that there’s something I need to finish,” he said. “I just don’t know what or how. Yet.”
I looked to our intertwined hands. As crazy as his words may have sounded, they felt right to my soul. The idea that the stars had willed us to be together made sense. I felt it.
“Then we’ll just have to finish it together,” I said.
“Together.” Max said softly.
I dared to look at him. His eyes met mine and then drifted down. The tension between us was intoxicating, and I struggled against the invisible cord pulling us together.
A few moments passed in silence, and we both looked away, our gazes returning to the stars above. They twinkled against the stark black sky, and I felt a pull in my chest like the stars spoke to me too.
“Sawyer, I have to say this. And I know you don’t want to hear it and you’re confused, but I have to say something before I burst,” he said. “I’ll take whatever you give me. Every confused, broken part of you. Anything is better than nothing.”
“Max—”
“It’s okay. I just wanted you to know that. And you can’t take awa
y what I feel for you, even if it’s one sided.” He loosened a breath I hadn’t realized he’d been holding. I saw the worry written across his face, like he thought I didn’t care for him as he did for me.
Gently, I pulled his chin to face me as my voice softened. “It isn’t…one sided.”
His pulse raced as his eyes devoured mine. He waited for me to continue.
“I loved Kenzie,” I said. “I probably always will, but a part of me realizes he’ll never be the same Kenzie I had fallen in love with. And I’ll never be the girl I know he once loved but now can’t remember. Hell, I’m not even human anymore.”
“I don’t care…” he said, but I placed a finger on his lips.
“I know, which is why everything you said means so much to me.” I dropped my hand, still feeling his warm breath on my fingertips. “But Max, I’m here for one purpose. And I intend to finish this job, come what may. Do you understand what I mean?”
He nodded ever so slightly with reluctant acceptance. I would carry out this mission no matter where it took me and to whatever end that may come.
“I understand, but I won’t let you do it alone. I don’t care what might happen to me; it’s worth it. You’re worth it,” he said, closing the space between us. I hardly had time to take a breath before his lips found mine, and he pressed them together.
My pulse raced as I melted into him and kissed him back. My mind reeled, but I pushed it aside and stayed in the moment. A moment that felt right and comfortable. I was safe in his arms despite any reservations I may have had. And I knew the stars had willed this moment for us to be here together.
We parted slightly, but he was close enough that I felt his breath on my cheek. I looked down to our interlocked hands and closed my eyes. “I can’t promise you anything,” I said softly.
“I didn’t ask you to.” He lifted my chin and pressed his lips against mine once more. “Whatever happens, just let it be.”
And I did. I let him fill my heart, and I didn’t run away. I didn’t run from what felt right, no matter how hard it’d be or what might happen. I wasn’t the same Sawyer I’d been in Cytos, but that was okay.
Chapter 30
Kenzie
Kenzie wasn’t used to being told to wait, but there he stood impatiently outside Coleman’s office, waiting for the guards to open the doors. He’d been summoned only minutes ago, but even that was too long to wait. He’d had too much time to think about it, too much time to consider scenarios in his mind about what Coleman wanted to talk to him about. Panic ran through Kenzie at the thought that one day he’d be told they found Sawyer, and that she’d been killed. Kenzie was aware that Coleman had a plan to get his daughter, but it didn’t involve anyone else surviving the carnage.
Finally, the door slid open, and Kenzie rushed in. Coleman wasn’t alone.
“Please sit down.” Coleman pointed to the empty chair beside Russo.
Coleman stood behind his desk and strolled to the giant window. “Our tests have been successful. We’re able to breach the United Isles’ shield long enough to do what we have planned.” His gaze shifted to Kenzie, and as if reading Kenzie’s mind, he said, “But we need to ensure certain people don’t manage to ruin our plans again.”
Kenzie maintained a cold expression. He was well aware of whom Coleman was talking about.
“Sawyer poses a problem to our forces, and she will have the backing of an army if we don’t stop her soon. Although they are no match for us, I don’t want to waste my time on these worthless humans. Their time will come, eventually.” Coleman gestured to Russo. “But for now, I have a bigger problem I need fixed right here.”
“Sir?” Russo said from the seat beside Kenzie. She didn’t so much as glance in Kenzie’s direction.
“There is a traitor in our midst, someone feeding our enemy secrets they should have no knowledge of.” Coleman’s eyes narrowed in on Russo.
“I am not sure what you mean, sir.” Russo’s voice wavered only a bit, but Kenzie heard it.
“No, you wouldn’t, would you…” His cold stare met Kenzie’s, and it took everything in him not to flinch back. “Kenzie here tells me you are able to make people see whatever you want them too. I wonder, does that mean you can see what they fear? What they don’t want anyone else to know?”
Russo’s throat bobbed. “Yes, I guess that is true. I can enter a person’s dream or thoughts and shape them however I want to.”
Coleman’s cold smile grew. “Excellent. Kenzie, I need you and Russo to find the traitor, and get rid of them.”
Kenzie nodded and turned with Russo to retreat. He was careful not to reveal anything as he pulled Russo out of the room, but he was certain he’d already found the traitor. Just outside the door waited another Carbon, one of the advanced Carbons Kenzie had been training. Easton.
He glanced over his shoulder as he stormed down the hallway with Russo in tow, watching as Easton entered Coleman’s office with a menacing smile.
Russo kept glancing at Kenzie as they rushed down the hallway and rounded a corner. They didn’t stop until it was certain they were alone.
She opened her mouth to speak.
“Not here!” Kenzie ordered. “I already know. I’ll deal with it.”
“But—”
“Don’t say a word! I don’t want to know. Just do what he asks, understood? Exactly what he asks.”
She nodded. Kenzie shoved her down the hallway. Before he could worry about how to cover up Russo’s betrayal, he had to figure out Coleman’s plans so he could save Sawyer, but he was running out of time.
Returning to his quarters, Kenzie grabbed his tablet. He’d hacked into their own system a long time ago, mostly to watch the many Carbons on the ship since he had a hard time trusting any of them. Today, he’d use it to spy on Coleman.
Pulling up the camera located in Coleman’s office, Kenzie turned up the volume to listen into the conversation.
“I want to see them destroyed, every last one of them,” Coleman said. He clenched his fists together on top of the desk.
“Yes, sir. How can I help?” Easton asked.
“Burn the place down.” A wicked smile spread across Easton’s face.
“Will Kenzie come with me, sir?”
“No. I can’t risk him seeing her again. I can’t allow that wretched girl to weasel her way in once more. He’s already too suspicious,” Coleman said.
Kenzie’s heart sank.
“I will wait for him to be ready,” said Coleman. “He will obey my orders when the time comes, but until then, I want you to finish the job and get me the girl. I’ll send someone else with you to help.”
Easton nodded and left.
Kenzie went to turn off the cameras, but Coleman’s cold, dark eyes glanced up to the lens. Coleman tilted his head to the side like a predator assessing his prey, but Kenzie severed the connection and turned off the tablet.
His heart raced. He hoped Coleman hadn’t seen what he had done.
Chapter 31
“We have sat for long enough. Would you join me for a walk?” Lena interrupted my thoughts. The green tea in my hands spilled over the cup’s rim as I startled. We’d been sitting in her study for over an hour, Lena reading a book while I was caught up in my thoughts. Both lost in our own worlds.
“Come.” She stood and beckoned me to follow her. Her white gown swished behind her as she exited the room.
I stood up and smoothed my black shorts that had become stuck to my legs. Despite Lena’s attempt to dress me, I kept to my black attire and had almost become used to the heat.
We stepped out of the castle and passed Max and Anthony, who were sparing in the courtyard. I couldn’t help glancing at Max’s shirtless body, glistening in the heat. The angled scar on his side was a constant reminder of the monster I’d one day have to kill. That sense of duty tugged at my chest.
He caught my eye and gave me a cocky half-grin. His lingering gaze caused my cheeks to grow warm and I looked away.
> We exited through the front gates, and Lena led the way through the city. Every person we passed made a polite bow. We walked down the stone pathway to the bottom of the island. Children gawked and stared, and she addressed every one of them with a playful pat on the head or a friendly wave hello. We walked in silence until we reached the edge of the bay below.
Lena slipped off her shoes and stepped into the warm water. I watched from the water’s edge for a few minutes. “Is this want you wanted to show me?”
“Come in the water.” Lena avoided my question.
“I’m fine here. Nice and dry.” I didn’t feel like getting wet and covered in sand.
“The view is much better from here,” she said, wading deeper into the water with the hem of her hiked-up dress getting wet. “Come on.”
I moaned and took off my shoes. I tiptoed into the water. It was warm and inviting here at the calm center of the bay, the opposite of the rapid waves hitting the outside of the island. I came to Lena’s side as the water tickled the tips of my shorts. “Okay, what am I looking at here?” I scanned the water.
“This.” She pointed behind me to the city we had wound our way through. As I rotated to see what she pointed at, I was speechless at the sight. The city bustled with energy as people went about their day-to-day routines.
The white castle at the top of the hill sparkled with the sun’s rays and the spiraled towers around the exterior wall flickered like diamonds. The rest of the city basked in its reflection. From the middle of the bay, I saw deep green shrubs surrounding the outer edges of the island where the water met the steep cliffs. White sand beaches surrounded the bay’s inner waters where the houses ended. The smooth water reflected the colors and the people walking by like a distant mirage.
“I know your purpose for being here is to learn and train so you can beat my da…I mean, Coleman.” Lena caught herself. “But I want you to see why I am here. This is my home. These are my people, and they have all become a part of me just as I am a part of them.”