Defiance Rising

FOURTEEN

  Illyria.

  I hold out my hand to stop Bastien. His grip tightens around the neck of the sack slung over his shoulder, his piercing gaze searching the forest for any sign of danger. When he sees none, he gives me a quizzical look. I press my finger to my lips and wait.

  Illyria? Can you hear me?

  I whip around, searching the late afternoon woods for the source of the whisper. The voice sounds so familiar, but nothing stands out to me. “I heard it again.”

  “Heard what? We’re not going to start this again, are we?” Bastien shifts his stance, adjusting the weight of his bag. With two pairs of clothing missing and the blanket lassoed around the middle of the pack, Bastien managed to combine his two bags together. I noticed the care he took to replace the brown teddy bear, but he said nothing about it, so neither did I. Whatever sentiment this bear holds for him, I’m not about to pry.

  “That voice. It sounds like…” I trail off as I realize why it’s familiar to me. “It’s my friend, Aminah.”

  “Out here?” He glances back through the trees toward the lake we passed only a few moments ago. He squints into the winds that lash out at us from across the wide expanse. We haven’t seen a living soul since we left the cave an hour ago.

  “No.” I shake my head. “I think she’s in my head.”

  I ignore Bastien’s obvious disbelief as I close my eyes and listen. Illyria? Are you there?

  Aminah? I can barely hear you. How are you in my head? Chatting with Kyan with my mind was crazy enough, but doing the same with Aminah is beyond bizarre.

  I’ll explain when you get here. Where are you?

  I move past Bastien and sweep my gaze along the lakeshore. Judging by the sun, we are heading northeast. Once we hit higher ground, we’ll have to veer slightly, but it should be almost a dead shot straight home.

  By the lake. We’ll be there in less than two hours.

  Bastien stares blankly at me as he moves to block my view. “What’s going on?”

  “Shh.” I wave him off. “I’m talking to my friend.”

  He shakes his head. “I’m not even going to ask how you’re doing that.”

  “Good, cause I really don’t know.” I wait in silence for Aminah’s response. When none comes, I worry that I’ve somehow disrupted our connection by speaking out loud.

  Is someone with you? She asks hesitantly.

  A friend. I can feel the waves of tension my response creates. Naturally, bringing a stranger into our camp will be met with great opposition, but the fact that it’s Bastien will be especially hard for Eamon. He didn’t take our little night in the City so well before. I’m not sure how I’m going to be able to tell him about this.

  Toren is coming for you.

  Wait! What? I step forward when the connection suddenly severs. It’s an odd feeling, like a door closing in my mind. I’m aware of the disconnect, but have no clue how to open the door again myself.

  “So, what’s up?” Bastien asks.

  I step back toward him and frown. “She said Toren’s coming.”

  “Another friend, I’m assuming.” He glances at the sky, frowning at the sun’s rapid descent. The Sky Ships will fly over soon. Memories of our adventure with the Caldonians two nights ago weigh heavily on both our minds.

  “Wouldn’t it make sense just to wait for us to arrive?”

  I shrug. “I would think so. She sounded a bit off when she said it though.”

  Suddenly, a blast of wind whips my hair into my face. Bastien drops his bag and leaps in front of me.

  “Whoa! I’m not looking for a fight. I’m just trying to find my friend.”

  I poke my head out around Bastien and my mouth drops open. “Toren?”

  Bastien looks back at me over his shoulder. “That’s your friend?”

  “How did you get here so fast?” I round Bastien’s side and gape at Toren. His short wavy hair is tangled into a windblown mess.

  Before he answers me, he gives Bastien a hard once over. Toren’s eyes come to rest on the blade held firmly in Bastien’s hand.

  “It’s safe,” I say, motioning for Bastien to lower his weapon.

  His jaw clenches as he darts a glance between Toren and me. He nods and slowly eases out of his tense stance. Toren doesn’t show any hint of relaxing. “Aminah told me you weren’t alone.”

  I look over at Bastien and fight to control my anxiety. If Toren doesn’t approve of him, there’s no way Bastien’s stepping foot anywhere near our cave. “This is Bastien. I told you how he saved my life in the City. He saved me last night from the aliens again.”

  I can tell Bastien noticed that I edited out the part where I nearly drowned because of the tornado I somehow created, but he lets it slide. Toren’s eyebrows arch as he crosses his arms over his chest.

  “Is that so?” Bastien shifts from one foot to the next. I can’t help but notice that each time he does, he inches a bit closer to my side. “Seems rather attached to you,” Toren mutters, staring him down.

  “I made a promise to myself to protect her back in the City. I don’t break my promises.” Bastien replies with cool confidence.

  I step between the guys and rise up on my tiptoes so I’m eye level with Toren. “You know I would never risk everyone’s safety if I didn’t think we could trust him.”

  Toren rubs his chin, thinking it over. A part of me fears this decision won’t go in my favor. I look toward Bastien and feel torn as to what I would do if that happened. I can’t stand the idea of him being out here all alone.

  “Fine,” Toren begrudgingly concedes. “We’ll let the group decide when we get back. Eamon will be furious if I keep you any longer. He’s beside himself with worry.”

  “He’s back? Was he hurt?” My voice rises an octave as I cling to Toren’s arm. “I tried to find him, but the aliens came at me so fast I couldn’t go back.”

  “He made it out alive but he’s blaming himself for the attack.”

  “Stubborn fool,” I grumble. “There’s no way he could have known.”

  “Everyone knows that, but he’s not listening to reason right now. Maybe you can talk some sense into him.” Toren holds out his hand to me. “Grab on and whatever you do, don’t let go.”

  Bastien steps forward and grasps my hand. “Hang on a second. I’m not letting her go, just like that.”

  Toren’s face darkens with anger. “You have no claim to her. I suggest you back off.”

  “No,” I plead, feeling like a rope tugged in two directions. “Stop it, both of you.”

  I pull out of Toren’s grasp and place a hand on Bastien’s arm. I try not to let my thoughts drift toward the fact that this is the first time I’ve willingly touched him. “It’s ok. He’s my friend, Bastien. You don’t have to worry.”

  He lifts a challenging gaze to Toren. “Oh sure, he’s got warm fuzzies written all over him.”

  I laugh and nod. “He has his moments.”

  Stepping back from Bastien, I accept Toren’s hand. “So are you gonna tell me how you got here so fast?”

  “Nope,” he offers a smile. “I’m gonna show you. Hold on tight.”

  I push the tangled mess of hair out of my eyes as we appear at the edge of the cave within only a few seconds of leaving Bastien at the lake. I pry my fingers from around Toren’s shoulders, offering a sheepish grin as apology for the nail marks I’ve left behind.

  “How do you feel?” he asks as he holds me upright.

  “Like I left my stomach three miles back.” My knees buckle and I slump against his side. “How are you able to run so fast?”

  Toren’s jaw clenches as he turns. I watch his profile glow in the fading light. “I’m not really sure. Something weird happened last night.”

  He turns back and offers a strained smile. “We can talk about that when I get you home.”

  “Oh no.” I hold out my hand to pus
h Toren back. “You have to get Bastien.”

  “It’s probably better if he stays─”

  A ripple of anger makes my nausea vanish. “You promised.”

  He sighs heavily, averting his gaze. “You know Eamon won’t be happy.”

  “Tough. I’m not leaving Bastien out there by himself. I owe him, Toren.”

  Gritting his teeth, he nods and backs away. “Fine. Don’t move. I’ll be back in a minute.”

  Only a whirlwind of leaves reveals his path as he blurs out of sight. I shake my head and lean back against the cold stone.

  I don’t understand what is happening to us. Aminah can talk to my mind, Toren can run faster than a bullet and Bastien can… I frown, realizing Bastien never told me exactly what he could do. Has everyone been affected by my blast?

  A chilly gust of wind funnels past me as Toren and Bastien grind to a halt a few feet away and instantly separate. The tension between them is nearly palpable, but I fail miserably to hide my smirk as they brush themselves off like young kids with cooties.

  Bastien runs his hands through his hair. I try not to stare at the cascade of black hair that falls back into place. When Toren catches me watching, I clear my throat and head deeper into the cave where darkness can hide my telling blush.

  I listen to the shuffling feet behind me and smile at the murmured curses coming from Bastien. “Oh yeah, watch your head. The ceiling dips down here.”

  “Could’ve told me that earlier,” Bastien grumbles from the back of the line.

  I grin and quicken my pace. I can tell by the way that the blackness turns to charcoal gray that we are getting close. Two more bends and it will be a straight shot to the Temple.