by Grace White
The Gaia Chronicles Book 3
Published by Delesty Books
First eBook Edition
Copyright © Grace White 2018
All rights reserved.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and events are the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons or events is purely coincidental.
No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without the written permission of the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes only.
If you are reading a copy of this book that has not been purchased from a licensed retailer, please destroy it. Thank you for your support.
Edited by Andrea M. Long
Cover designed by Lianne Cotton
Images: Licensed from Shutterstock and Adobe Stock
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Caged (The Gaia Chronicles)
Prologue
1.
2.
3.
4.
Water
5.
6.
7.
Earth
8.
9.
10.
11.
Air
12.
13.
14.
15.
Fire
16.
17.
Tarturus
Titles by Grace White
The Lilituria Prophecy
AWAKEN
ALLURE
ASCENSION
The Gaia Chronicles
CURSED
COVETED
CAGED
CROWNED (coming Aug ’18)
The Complex Series
ALORA’S CHOICE
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Prologue
“What troubles you, sister?” The white-haired man moves behind Gaia as she stands on the balcony of her room, overlooking the luscious green fields of Elysia. The snow-topped mountains are in the distance, the glistening oceans beyond that.
“We have lived long, fulfilled lives, have we not?” Her voice is soft, laced with a hint of melancholy.
“We have,” Eros agrees.
“And Earth, it has flourished.”
“It has.”
Silence lingers between them as he steps closer, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Sister, what plagues your thoughts?”
“I’m tired, brother. Of sending them to defend my creation. My heart. They risk their existence every day to protect what I cannot. It does not sit well with me.” Gaia’s emerald green eyes flutter shut under the weight of her words.
“Dear sister, you worry too much. It is not for us to defend that which we created, you know this.”
“I know,” she sighs, “I just... Something is changing, brother.”
Eros regards his sister, his deep knowing eyes tracing the profile of her face. “It is just the ebb and flow of creation, Gaia.”
Her eyes lift as she smiles sadly. “Is it?”
1.
“So, what do you think?”
Three pairs of eyes watch me expectantly as I take in the house. It’s a big old farmhouse on the edge of the river, its interior the perfect mix of new and old.
“It’s...” I fight back the urge to scream and force a smile. “Nice.”
“Nice? Come on, Kitten. You’re killing us here. We thought...” Cael’s voice trails off as he clutches the back of his neck while averting his eyes. Something he’s been doing a lot since... well, since I gave him a part of myself I’ll never get back.
“What do you want me to say?” I ask softly.
It is nice. Better than nice if I'm truthful; it’s beautiful. Exactly the kind of place where I can imagine myself living when I’m older. I think it’s the fact it reminds me of my grandmother’s house: warm, homely, full of love. But it’s hard to see past the circumstances that led us here.
The three of them continue to watch me as I inhale a ragged breath. Our journey over had been quiet. The guys were in full protection mode while I sat quietly in the back, watching the streets of Atchison blur by.
“Terra, we know this isn’t easy,” Endo takes a step forward, but I inch back. Dejection burns in his eyes. “We know you didn’t want to leave campus, but it’s not safe for you there right now.”
“Because Amalia is the darkness the Oracle foresaw?”
It still doesn’t make sense.
Amalia has done nothing but try to help me. She’s my friend. She isn’t some end-of-the-world darkness.
I can’t—I won’t—believe it. Not until they give me irrefutable proof.
“I know you don’t want to believe it, Kitten.” Damn Cael and his telepathy. “But for now, we have to assume she is the threat.”
Folding my arms over my chest, I let out a long breath. It’s only early, but I’m tired.
“Come on,” Ross says. “I’ll show you to your room.” He motions down the hall and I nod, relieved he senses I need space.
Picking up my duffle bag, he guides me to a room on the second floor and pushes the door wide. I steel myself and brush past him.
“This is...” My eyes widen taking it all in. The soft green walls decorated with framed sketches.
Ross’ sketches.
The curtains are a soft lilac matching the bed cover. It’s beautiful. On the one hand, I want to thank them for trying to make this easier to swallow by making it all so lovely. But how can I when they had this whole place ready and waiting, as if they knew one day, it would come to this?
He clears his throat behind me. “We thought this might help.”
Well, there’s my answer. I glance back with a half-hearted shrug. “It does.” I pause. “A little.”
“I know you don’t want to be here, Terra, and it seems like we’re taking over. But we just want you safe. That’s all we want.” Our eyes lock on one another’s, and I can see his sincerity. But it’s more than that.
I can feel it.
Energy flows between us like a warm current.
“Thank you. I love them,” I say.
Ross pins me with an indecipherable look.
“What is it?” I frown.
He blinks as if I’ve jolted him from a dream. “Huh?”
“Are you okay?”
“I... I should go.” He turns around to leave but I rush forward, snagging his wrist. “Wait, please.”
“Terra, I—”
“What happened with me and Cael, it doesn’t—”
“Terra, you don’t have to explain yourself. It’s none of my business.”
“Isn’t it?” I shoot back. Because he knows this affects all of us. “I was hurting, and I needed—”
“You don’t need to do this.” His expression turns hard as his brows pinch. “Take some time to settle in. We’ll be downstairs when you’re ready.”
My lips part to reply, to beg him to talk to me about this, but in the end no words spill out and all I can muster is a tight nod.
He lingers, and for a second I think he might try to smooth things over, but then with a small shake of his head, Ross turns his back on me and leaves the room and I’m left with a sinking feeling in my stomach that what Cael and I did last night has changed everything.
And not for the better.
“WE CAN’T KEEP HER HERE forever.”
“And we won’t...”
I tiptoe along the hall, grateful to the soft carpet for keeping the sound of my footsteps dulled. The guys' voices filter out from the kitchen where the door
is ajar. After taking an hour to myself, I finally left my room to find them. I should have known I’d discover them colluding.
Part of me knows it’s wrong to eavesdrop, but part of me—the part of me they treat like fragile glass—wants answers, so I inch closer to the wall, straining to hear.
“Sol wants us to hang tight and wait for his instruction. It’s the weekend. We have a couple days to figure out what's next,” Endo says.
Someone grunts, most probably Ross. “You think...” he trails off and my spine snaps rigid. Stupid girl. Of course they would sense me.
With a heavy sigh, I push open the door and step inside the kitchen. “Hey.” I lift my hand in a feeble wave.
Three pairs of knowing eyes stare back at me. “Something you’d like to tell us, Kitten?” Cael’s brow lifts and I feel myself flush.
“I was—”
“Listening,” Ross finishes, his voice flat; in total contrast to the amusement dancing in Endo’s eyes. At least one of them finds this amusing.
“The door was open, and it wasn’t like you were trying to be discreet. Besides, surely you felt me coming down here?”
Surprise registers on his face. And I notice Cael fidget out of the corner of my eye.
“What?” I ask, not liking the way they’ve all gone deadly quiet. “What’s wrong?”
“You’re right, we should have felt you. Ross?” Cael says glancing to his friend.
“Now she’s here I’ve got it, but you’re right, I didn’t feel her before.”
“Endo?”
He runs a hand through his red hair and stares at me. “Same.”
“Oh-kay, what does that mean?” I croak, because it can’t be anything good.
“It’s probably just stress. We’re all wound a little tight after everything.” Cael throws me what I assume is supposed to be a reassuring look, but it does nothing to loosen the tight knot in my stomach.
“I felt you,” I turn to Ross. “Before, upstairs. The connection was there.”
“I felt it too.” He swallows over the words as if they are painful and my chest constricts. He’s pulling away. Building his walls higher.
And I hate it.
As if things weren’t already weird between us. I hate that things feel more strained than ever.
“Can you still hear me?” Cael asks, and I throw him an agitated look. “It’s fine,” he adds with a shrug. “They know.”
“Is there anything the three of you don’t share?”
Endo clears his throat, and Cael stifles a laugh, as my cheeks explode with heat as the realization of how that sounded sinks into my bones. “I didn’t... I meant. Oh, I’m going to get some fresh air.”
I avoid their eyes as I rush toward the back door, but the rusted handle is stuck, and I struggle to open it. When I finally nudge it free, I tumble out, embarrassment coursing through my veins. The garden, if you can call it that, is huge; flanked either side with huge oak trees. Slipping off my sneakers, I sink my feet into the luscious green carpet.
“I feel you,” I whisper. “I still feel you.”
A gust of wind picks up and the trees seem to bend and groan in response. It is different now. I no longer feel their stories brushing up against me. It’s intrinsic. Soul deep. The energy of the earth connecting us.
“I’m sorry,” Cael’s voice jolts me back into the moment. “I shouldn't have laughed.”
“Cael, I don’t know how to do this.” I let out a weary sigh, wrapping my arms around my body.
He steps closer, the tug in my stomach sharpening with every step. My body remembers. How Cael felt covering my body. His desperate kisses and heated touches. A tingle works its way up my spine, rushing to my nerve endings when his fingers brush my shoulder. “Terra, look at me.”
Turning, I stare up at him through my lashes. “Nothing has changed,” he says. “What we did, it was one of the best moments of my life.” Cael reaches out and tucks a stray curl behind my ear. “Even if I hadn’t told them, they would know. We’re connected, Terra. All of us. I know it’s confusing and I know you’re scared but you don’t ever need to be nervous of us.”
“Ross doesn’t seem okay with it.”
“Ross has his reasons, Kitten, but I promise you it isn’t about what we did last night.” Cael’s mouth lowers to mine, hovering. I know he’s waiting for me to give him permission and my heart melts. No matter how much I try to fight the attraction between us—between me and the three of them—I can’t.
Fisting his t-shirt, I tug him closer until our lips meet in a soft kiss. Cael’s hand glides up my neck, burying itself in my hair, anchoring me to him. My body hums with new feelings: lust, desire... love. But it’s not possible, is it? I’ve known him mere weeks. Sure, the connection between us is there; I feel it running underneath the surface, just as I do with the others. But that’s because of their connection to Gaia.
Isn’t it?
“Stop over-thinking,” he murmurs between kisses, framing my face with both hands now.
“Last night, you—”
“Sol called,” Endo’s voice ends our moment and Cael sighs against the corner of my mouth.
“Later, Kitten. We’ll talk later.” He presses a final kiss to my forehead and links his hand with mine, pulling me toward the house.
Endo’s eyes linger in our direction and I wonder what he’s thinking. But an easy smile lifts the corner of his mouth, and I know Cael’s right. We’re all in this. Together.
I just wish I knew how our story ended.
“Get in here, Glow Worm,” he says. “It’s my turn.”
My eyes widen at his words and they both laugh. Cael slides his hand from mine and whispers, “Everything is fine,” letting Endo pull me into his side.
“So, Glow.”
“Hmm, Endo,” I say, my brows pinched. “I’m not sure I can deal with being called Kitten and Glow Worm.”
“But I need a nickname for you.”
“You kind of already do...”
“I do?” He gives me a blinding smile, but then a strange look passes over his face.
“I just mean...” The words lodge in my throat but then he leans in, his lips brushing the shell of my ear.
“Vasilissa,” he breathes and my own breath catches. “I’m joking.”
“I know that's your name for Gaia. That it means queen and I'm not anything of the sort.” I stare at my feet. “I know harboring the spirit of an ancient primordial deity inside me doesn’t make me anything special.”
I'm just a young woman. A very confused, albeit strong, young woman.
“You worry too much, Vasilissa,” Endo says, and I look up at him.
“Don’t tell me you can hear my thoughts too?”
“No, I don’t have the power of telepathy.”
“But you do have other powers?” Ross can dream walk; Cael has higher telepathy, the ability to sense and affect someone’s thoughts, and Sol can mind read.
“That would be for me to know, and you to find out.” He winks and takes off to find the others.
2.
We find Cael and Ross in the living room. There’s no sign of Sol. Not that I’m surprised. Endo waits for me to choose a seat. Ross is in the huge armchair and Cael is on a couch with enough room to seat the two of us. But I opt to sit in the wooden rocking chair in the corner of the room. I need space, and I don’t want to make Ross feel any more excluded than he already does.
Cael catches my eye, a deep frown pulling at his brows. But Endo drops down beside him and says, “Sol called.”
“You already told us that. What’d he say?”
“Not much. He staked out the dorm after we left. The witch had breakfast and then went out running. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.”
“Amalia,” I correct. “Her name is Amalia, and maybe she’s not—” I start, but Cael cuts me off.
“Kitten, it’s her. They tracked that energy back to her.”
“But what if she doesn’t know, like I didn’t
know what I was? She could need our help.”
Endo snorts at that and I throw him a hard glare. His brows shoot up and he mouths, “Sorry.”
“I know this is hard for you to understand,” Cael’s voice softens. “But this is what we do. What we’ve spent our whole existences doing.”
I let out a bitter laugh. “We don’t even know what we’re fighting. I may not have all the facts or the insight you do, but Amalia is my friend. She’s done nothing but be there for me, and until you have proof that suggests otherwise, I refuse to believe she’s the great threat the Oracle foresaw.”
Cael drags a hand over his face, flicking his eyes to Endo and Ross for back up, no doubt. But the two of them sit quietly, their lips pulled into thin lines.
“A little help,” Cael pushes, and Endo finally releases a weary sigh.
“Terra has a point. We need to know more about what we’re facing. Maybe it’s time she—”
“No, absolutely not.” Cael leaps up and starts pacing. “Have you lost your fucking mind? She’s not ready, she’s not...” His wild gaze settles on mine. “Kitten, you need to trust us to do our job.”
“Fine,” I huff. “I’ll give you the weekend. But if you don’t have something more concrete by then, I’m going back to Atchison.”
“Terra, come—”
“The weekend,” Endo interjects. “Give us the weekend and we’ll get you your proof.”
I nod. I don’t like it, but something tells me I’m a prisoner here whether I like it or not. “But I want to keep training though,” I say. “I need to harness my power.”
“Fine.” Cael’s jaw tics.
“Fine.”
We’re locked in a stare-off when Endo chuckles, “Well, isn’t this going to be fun?”
“AGAIN,” ENDO SHOUTS from his garden chair.
We’ve been out here for hours. After the heated discussion this morning, Cael and Ross left to meet Sol, leaving me with Endo. But he was more than willing to train with me.
Rolling back my shoulders I inhale deeply, letting the breath center me once more. Focusing on the current flowing through me, I lift a hand, palm upward, and narrow my eyes. My skin begins to vibrate, heat encasing me. It starts at my shoulder, rushing down my arm and into my wrist. This is it, this is—