Successor

  The die turns.

  Only implausible.

  Breathe in. Breathe out. “Only implausible.”

  Another turn.

  Nothing is impossible.

  Another deep breath. “Nothing is impossible.” I close my eyes, lowering my head. “Only implausible.” After a long moment I look back to the ball with a ghost of a smile. “Thank you.”

  The indicator sinks into the liquid, but the glow remains. It pulses, gentle, and I find comfort in realizing I’m not in this alone. The odds are against me, against us all. We’re dealing with a madman, after all. But no matter how small our chances are of coming out of tonight unscathed, there’s still the possibility of success. I can make it out of this. I just need to believe and hold onto that belief.

  I run my thumb along the rim of the portal. “Things are going to get ugly tonight.” The light continues to pulse, and I talk while I have the Link’s attention. “I’m sure I’ve seemed ungrateful to you for this whole thing. It’s not exactly easy, finding this out about myself. I never asked to be someone like this. I didn’t know it was possible.”

  Through the doorway to the main room, Kirahl and Kais sit next to one another, their heads close and hands together as they talk. Even if I could amplify their words with my ability, I don’t think I’d want to hear them.

  I swallow around the lump in my throat. “But if it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have discovered this world or these amazing people. I wouldn’t have known there’s this whole other side to myself. I would’ve been incomplete and never known why.” I sigh, ignoring the burning at the backs of my eyes. “So if I don’t get the chance to tell you later…thank you.”

  The glow brightens, then the portal is dark once more.

  With a steadier mindset, I tuck the toy back in my bag. My gaze catches on the mess at my feet, and I lean over to gather the fallen items. As I place my cracked lip balm back in the bag, I peer under the bed for anything I might have missed. In the dim light from the other room, I spot a small white box on its side. My heart clenches as I retrieve it and pull off the lid.

  A small, triangular piece of silver made of a single, interwoven line. I gaze at it, my throat tightening as I run a finger over the pendant my father gave me.

  Will I ever see him again? What will happen back home if I never return? I can’t imagine what my disappearance will do to him. And what about Leila’s family? No one will ever know what happened to us. I hope it never comes to that.

  I drape the pendant’s chain around my neck and secure the clasp. For luck. If the worst happens tonight, I want a part of my father with me in the end. I drop the triangle down the inside of my top for protection, letting it sit over my heart.

  Ren is still sleeping next to me. There isn’t much time left, and I’m not leaving without saying goodbye. I draw my thumb across his cheekbone. His skin is cooler than expected.

  “Ren.” I caress his cheek and temple, coaxing him awake. “Ren, wake up.”

  His eyes remain shut. Is he too drugged to wake? Dismay is about to set in when his arm lifts, his hand reaching to mine and stilling it on his face.

  A relieved laugh comes out, quiet as a whisper. “Hey, how are you feeling?”

  His eyes open, clouded with grogginess and pain. He struggles to focus, and after a few moments his gaze locks on mine. He presses my palm to his cheek. “I failed you.”

  “No, you didn’t.”

  “It is my duty to protect you.” He touches cool fingertips to the cut on my neck. I forgot it was there.

  Pulling his hand down, I settle it between both of mine on my lap. “You’ve saved my life a couple times over, already. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be here.”

  “That does not negate—”

  “You haven’t failed,” I cut in, my own guilt surfacing. My gaze falls to his chest, and I lift a hand to trace the edge of the dressing. “I did. It’s my fault this happened.” He starts to argue, and I lay my fingertips over his mouth to silence him. “This is one of those times when I owe you a real apology. It makes up for all the unnecessary ones.” I swallow, lifting my fingers away. “I should’ve listened to you, and I didn’t. It was entirely my fault, not yours. I am so sorry.”

  My eyes mist, and his thumb caresses the top of my hand. I still his movements with my other hand. I don’t deserve to be comforted.

  “I dreamt of you.” His voice is soft, almost too quiet to hear, his eyes on our joined hands.

  “Today?”

  “I stood at the lake’s edge,” he says, not looking at me, “seeking the answer to a question I cannot remember. I stood for days, maybe longer. When the answer finally came to me, I turned to find you waiting in the distance. I started toward you, but my legs became tangled in the grasses between us. When I could not move any farther, you turned from me, disappearing into the forest.” He looks up, his eyes filled with pain that has nothing to do with his injury. “I knew that would be the last I would ever see you.”

  The hurt in his eyes makes my heart ache, and I look down at our hands. How can I reassure him when this very moment could be the true end to that dream?

  I lift his hand and place it over my heart, covering his fingers with mine. “I’m right here.”

  His brows draw together as his gaze searches mine. We sit in silence, looking at each other like we’re trying to memorize every detail.

  When I know I can’t wait any longer, I pull his hand away. He isn’t going to like this.

  I draw a deep breath, preparing. “I’m going to meet with Taustin tonight.”

  Alarm fills his eyes, and his grip on my hand tightens. “No.”

  “He has Leila, Ren.” I move my fingers over his fist, trying to soothe him. “If he doesn’t get what he wants, he’ll kill her and everyone in the village. I have no choice. I have to go.”

  “No.” His voice is hoarse and adamant. “You cannot.”

  “Kais and the others are coming with me. I might be able to use my sound ability if I’m lucky. I won’t be defenseless.”

  He shakes his head, a deep frown pulling at his scar. “Taustin must not get the key.”

  “He won’t. It’s not even on this plane. I’m going to give him a fake—he has no idea what it looks like anymore. He’ll have to take my word that what I give him is the real one.”

  Ren blinks in surprise. “He knew before?”

  I nod. “Pretty sure. Somehow he figured it out when my mother had it. That’s why she left and didn’t come back. She had to keep it where he couldn’t follow. As long as he knew what it was, she had to stay away. She did it for the Laraek—for everyone.” I reach over him, running my thumb over the scar through his brow. “She didn’t abandon any of you.”

  He regards me, his intent gaze falling away to some point on the wall behind me. “It is my turn to apologize.” His focus drifts back to me. “I am sorry for not confiding in you before now. It was not my choice to keep the truth from you.”

  “I know. I understand why, but I still feel sort of…blind-sided by the whole thing.” I quirk a brow at him. “It’s not every day I find out I’m a guardian of something that could destroy the universe.”

  His gaze lowers to the cut on my throat. “Taustin will be furious.”

  “As long as I get Leila back, he can get as pissed as he wants. The scouts and sentries can handle him after that.”

  “It will not be that simple.”

  “I have to at least try.”

  The disapproval in his eyes is clear, the corners of his mouth turning down.

  “I’m not going to let my friend die.”

  His mouth takes on a stern set. “Then neither will I.” He starts to sit up, straining against his wound. He makes it a few inches off the bed before I place a hand on his good shoulder.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I am going with you.” His voice is hoarse with pain. “You must be protected.”

  I scoff and push him back down with ease. A light sweat
sits over his brow.

  “You wouldn’t be able to protect yourself, much less me or anyone else. Besides,” I say, sitting back, “I have enough to deal with tonight. I don’t want to have to worry about you, too. You’ve risked too much for me already, for the sake of duty. This”—I touch his ribs below the dressing on his chest—“could’ve killed you. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if it had.”

  His gaze doesn’t waver as he pulls his hand from mine, bracing it on the bed. He pushes himself up until he’s sitting eye level with me. His breath fans my collarbone, heavy from his effort.

  “No risk is too great if it keeps you safe.” He curls his hand into the hair behind my ear, giving me goose bumps. “I would withstand a thousand knives and more for you.” He shakes his head, his gaze holding mine. “Not for duty.”

  Tears burn the backs of my eyes again. I shut them and take a shaky breath. His forehead touches mine, and I grasp his arm below the elbow. Injured or not, he’s still strong. I need that now as weakness steals over me, making my heart ache.

  “Why do we have to come from different worlds? It isn’t fair.”

  He’s silent for a long moment. “And if we did not?”

  I pull back to look at him. “Then I wouldn’t have to say goodbye.”

  He runs his hand through my hair, watching his fingers. “That is not what I want, either. But I understand why.”

  I sniffle and whisper, “I wish I was better with words. There are things I want to say, but I’m not sure how.”

  He searches my eyes for a long time. There’s hope in his gaze, his longing for me to stay—and with it the sadness of reality. Does he see those same things when he looks at me?

  They’re there, even if I can’t voice them.

  Finally, he says, “If those words come to you tomorrow or on some distant day, you will always know where to find me.”

  Unable to speak, I nod and close my eyes. I touch my forehead to his good shoulder, and he rests his head against mine, his lips at my ear.

  I don’t understand this connection the echo has given us. It’s made us important to each other. A part of one another. According to Kirahl, I have a choice. I can choose to reject the echo—to reject Ren. We’ve known each other such a short time, and it boggles my mind I could care this much for someone so fast. I’ve always thought something like this takes time, that it only happens like this in fairytales where there’s always a happy ending.

  This is no fairytale. There may not be some distant day for us. We may not have anything past tonight. All that’s left is this moment, and I wish I could live in it forever so I could keep him for just a little longer.

  Footsteps approach from the main room, and Kais’ voice sounds from the doorway. “It is time.”

  I swallow hard and nod against Ren’s shoulder. With a deep breath I sit back, my gaze meeting his. A flood of emotion fills them, and I look down to the dressing over his chest and shoulder. How am I supposed to say goodbye to this man?

  “Here, lie down.” My voice is strained as I coax him down onto the bed.

  On his back once more, he cups my cheek as his eyes plead with me. “Return safely.”

  Knowing full well I can’t promise to do as he asks, I place my hand over his. “You have my word.” A few heartbeats pass before I force myself to stand, his hand still in my grasp. “Rest.”

  His grip tightens as I pull away, releasing me as I move toward the main room, the wall coming between us.

  A tremor runs through me, and I shake out my hands as I approach Kirahl and Kais. “Watch him,” I say to Kirahl with a shake of my head. “Don’t let him leave, no matter what.”

  Her brows rise. “He will not be stable enough to leave that bed.”

  “I wouldn’t put it past him to try.”

  “Are you sure you want to do this? Taustin is not known for his mercy.”

  “Then let’s hope he’s in the mood to strike a bargain.” I look to Kais. “Ready?”

  He gives me a nod, turning to Kirahl and pulling her into a hug. She whispers something in his ear, and he kisses her temple. They separate and Kirahl looks to me. She lays a hand on my shoulder, giving it a squeeze as Kais leads the way outside.

  As I pass Ren’s room, I look back. Our gazes meet for a brief moment, and my chest tightens. I hope he’ll have at least one good memory of me.

  We step outside. The sun has broken past the horizon. We don’t have much time to reach the clearing.

  Over a dozen scouts and sentries are waiting. Among them are Zaeza and her mate, Gilahn, the scout who had sparred with Ren on my first day of training. Tavahni and Leksoi are also here, the clan’s newest mated pair. This should be a happy time for them, the beginning of their lives together. Instead they’re risking their lives to help me rescue my friend from a sadistic tyrant.

  Gilahn steps forward, holding out a staff to me. I take it without question, pressing my lips together. I am far from ready for real combat, but I’ll take whatever help I can get.

  With a nod to Kais, he leads the way out of the village and heads south.

  Chapter Nineteen

  The fading sunlight fails to break through the canopy, leaving the footpath bathed in the shadows of the coming night. My movements are still loud compared to the others’, but stealth isn’t necessary tonight. We need to draw Taustin to us, away from the clan. Kais agreed the cliff overlooking the lake would be the best place to intercept the outlanders before they reach the village.

  The group arrives at the sparsely wooded spot before long, and I take a tense breath. The sun still peeks over the horizon. We’re on time, but there’s no sign of Taustin. I can’t make out the light from the fire in the village center in the forest below. It’ll be visible before long.

  The scouts stick long torches into the ground, illuminating the area and casting ominous shadows into the deeper forest. I hope it’ll be enough to catch Taustin’s attention.

  My thoughts are answered by movement among the trees. Silhouettes in the dark emerge into the light as a dozen or more outlanders approach us. I scour the group and can’t stop the whimper of relief when I spot Leila. Her arms are draped over an outlander on each side as they drag her to the front of the group.

  My elation evaporates at the sight of those holding her. Confusion makes my jaw drop.

  “Lasula? Ryka?” Their names are out of my mouth before I realize I’ve said them. Gasps sound around me.

  What the hell are they doing here?

  Judging by Lasula’s cold glare and Ryka’s uncertain shiftiness, the answer is clear.

  Anger erupts in my chest. With my eyes on the two traitors, I angle my head toward Kais next to me. “I guess we know how Taustin has kept tabs on me.” I call over to the two women, “What prize did he offer for you to betray your own clan?”

  “Laraek has never been their clan,” a deep, gravelly voice responds from the shadows.

  My jaw clenches as a tall man with a shaved head steps into the firelight. Larger than any man I’ve seen here, his burly arms and hands bear scars over their entireties. The rest of him is covered by a vest and leggings that do nothing to disguise his physicality. Two long, curved knives the length of my forearm sit at his hips. If his visible scars are any indication of what remains hidden, I have no doubt he’s lethal with his weapons of choice. I suppress a shudder when I imagine how many raids he must have led to look almost disfigured now. More scars cross his bald head, shining in the flickering light, and they make me wonder if he uses those long knives to shave it, too.

  His face is surprisingly unmarked. Everything about him is strong: his jaw and chin, the heavy ridge of his brow. His eyes, though buried in shadows, are intense with cold calculation and condescension.

  My grip on my staff tightens, pushing the end into the ground to keep my arm from shaking. I won’t give him the satisfaction of seeing how much he intimidates me.

  “As to their reward,” he says, reaching the front of the outlanders, “it i
s the pride of their father.” He surveys me from head to toe, sizing me up with a twitch of his mouth. “Something which yours certainly knows nothing of.”

  “Father?” Looking at the sisters, I see the resemblance between the three of them. I turn to Kais. “Why wasn’t I told Taustin is their father?”

  “The clan chooses its revelations with care,” Lasula replies. Gone is the kind, easy tone I’m used to with this woman. Now she emanates a coldness that rivals her father’s. “Secrets plague the Laraek like a sickness. The people are not as honorable as you have been led to believe.”

  The heat of my glare rivals the iciness of hers. “You failed to tell me you’re the daughter of a tyrant, one who will destroy anything to get what he wants—and you have the gall to lay the blame on the Laraek?” Disgust makes me shake my head. “You’re traitors to the people who considered you family. There’s no greater dishonor than that.”

  “They are nothing to us,” Lasula seethes through clenched teeth.

  “Silence!” The word comes out of Taustin’s throat in a growl. His icy stare focuses on me. “There is no dishonor when one’s loyalty is to the true authority of the lands.”

  “Since you believe that’s you, you’re loyal only to yourself.” There’s anger in my voice. Anger is good. It disguises the shakiness I can’t stop.

  “And what of your loyalties…Bonder.” He sneers through the name. “You intend to abandon those same people you are so adamant to defend—” He grips Leila’s chin, forcing her head back. “—in order to preserve this.” He releases her, giving her jaw a small shove. “How like Sianne you are.”

  “She didn’t abandon anyone.” My grip on the staff tightens.

  Yes, anger is better than fear. Anger can be harnessed, used. Fear debilitates. Anger can help keep me alive.

  “Everyone was safer as long as she stayed away from you.”

  He lets out a humorless laugh. “A coward’s excuse. She was afraid to accept the responsibility that comes with true power.”

  “And what responsibility is that? Bowing down to you?” My eyes narrow, and I shake my head. “I may be new to this world, but I know an elemental would never submit to an oppressor and murderer.”