Riley watched, helpless, as Xander came apart over Pash's abduction. She kept his grief private and knelt to hold him, unsure what else she could do in such a moment.
Susanna stepped outside the chief’s house and into Riley’s shell. She blinked, clearly bewildered by the watery appearance, then she spotted her cousin on the ground in Riley’s arms. “Xander?”
Gasping, he didn’t reply.
She waited silently for a minute while he pulled himself together, then said, “Go back to the Lodge, Xander. The others need you. I’ll stay with the twins.”
Xander looked at Riley, and then up at Susanna.
“I will take care of them,” Susanna assured him. “Go and lead your people.”
Xander hesitated again, then nodded. “Keep them safe,” he instructed her as he stood, then walked unsteadily in the direction of the Lodge.
Riley made herself visible again, and went with Susanna to the swing. They sat down beside Reed, and the three of them watched as Xander moved down the lane, each step seeming heavier to the big warrior than the one before.
Riley’s heart ached for him.
“You said one of the widowers felt the shield to confirm that Pash was taken,” Reed said to Susanna. “What did you mean?”
“Have you seen any of the couples who have armbands of their spouse’s color of light, Reed?”
“Yes. Some of the elders.”
“That’s called the Marriage of Lights. It’s a special marriage that takes place sometimes between two Miyala. No one knows how it happens except the people who have made that marriage, and they’re not allowed to talk about it. What we do know is that each partner gives a piece of their spirit to the other, and the exchange is permanent. Whenever one of those married men or women dies and their animal spirit becomes part of the shield, the connection between those partners doesn’t break, it moves. The widow or widower is no longer connected to another person, they’re connected to the shield. And those who have that connection can use it to communicate with the shield, like asking it questions about something that it sensed in the past. In this case, Pash’s abduction.”
Reed’s eyebrows shot up. “The shield around this camp is made up of animal spirits?”
“Hundreds of them,” Susanna said with a nod. “The animal spirit of every Greenwood who dies becomes a part of the shield. Their memories, their warrior abilities if they still have them, and in a few cases their marriage... all of that becomes part of the power that surrounds us and keeps us safe. Your sister is more protected here than she would be anywhere else.”
Reed glared at her. “Bullshit. Riley would be safer standing in the middle of Times Square with a flashing neon sign that says ‘I’m the Miyala you want’ than she is at this camp. Why? Because no one’s looking for her there.”
He’s right, Riley thought dejectedly.
Susanna brushed her light brown hair out of her eyes. “Reed, I know you don’t trust anyone here, but that shield is a sentient force and it sees Riley as one of its own. It will do everything it can to protect her. And so will we. Every man and woman here will defend her.”
“Look, I know you mean well, but Riley wouldn’t need that kind of defense if she went someplace else.” Reed stood up and paced back and forth in front of the swing. “We didn’t grow up like this. We’re used to living Veiled. I’m not okay with keeping my sister in danger so she can keep rubbing noses with all the other Greenwoods. I think the best thing she can do right now is run.”
“Run where?” Riley wondered. “There’s nowhere to go, Reed. Nowhere that I’d feel safe.”
Reed stopped pacing and looked at her, then he closed his eyes as if he were trying to shut something out. “Will can go with you. He would keep you safe.”
Riley’s mouth dropped open. Has EVERYBODY lost it? “You want me to run away with Will?”
“If the alternative is death, yes!”
Susanna crossed her arms and frowned. “Running is illogical. You’d never be able to stop once you started.”
“No one is running!” the Colonel snapped as he stepped outside. “Susanna, take them back to the Lodge! I don’t want anyone leaving it again until breakfast except for patrol duty. Then I want you and Ivan in the skies. Let me know if any of them are still nearby.” He walked past the three of them, heading for the dining hall, where many of the older clan members were still gathered.
“Yes, sir.” Susanna stood up. “Come on, guys.”
Gabe came out onto the porch of the Lodge as they approached. Riley could tell immediately that he’d been crying. She ran past Susanna to embrace him.
“Don’t let go of me,” she whispered.
“I won’t.”
The other Lodge members who were in the lounge were seated, most of them in tears as well. When Susanna walked in the door, Celia and Violet launched themselves at her.
“Will you stay here tonight?” Violet asked her.
“Yes. Dad wants Ivan and me to get ourselves airborne right now, but I will sleep here with you guys when we’re done scouting. I’ll text Owen to come, too. He’s still at the dining hall.”
Ivan stood and moved toward the door.
“Gabe, take Reed to the guys’ front bedroom and let him choose a bed. Vi, we will need...” Xander hesitated, and blinked back more tears.
Oh, Pash usually does this…
“Sue and Owen may want to sleep on the couch,” Xander continued. “If they do, we will let them. Reed will need a set of clean sheets.”
“No, I’m going to stay with the girls tonight,” Susanna told him. “They need me with them.”
“Three sets of sheets, then, Vi.”
Weeping, Violet went toward the linen closet.
“Owen’s on his way,” Susanna said as she put her phone in her pocket. “No one is to leave the Lodge again until breakfast except for patrols. Colonel’s orders,” Susanna told everyone as she walked out the door. “We’ll be back soon.”
“Hurry!” Celia called out.
Darren glared at Celia. “Hurry? Yeah, we really want her to do a half-assed flyover and miss something!”
“When has Susanna ever done anything half-assed?” Celia shot back.
Reed thanked Violet for his sheets and went to make his bed. He was staying in the front bedroom with the other diurnal guys. Riley remembered Pash explaining the difference, and she started shaking.
What kind of hell is she going through? Xander’s description of the pain that the soft-hearted turkey warrior was experiencing tore at her heart. And they took her for my sake!
Gabe sat down beside Riley and pulled her onto his lap. She curled herself into him.
“Why are you upset?” Violet asked Riley as she sat back down. “You barely know her.”
“Why are you being a bitch to Riley?” Gabe snapped back.
“Oh, I don’t know... maybe because she’s the reason they took Pash?”
“They took Pash because they’re a bunch of sick freaks,” Perry argued. He sniffed, then shook his head. “Riley didn’t cause this.”
“Oh really?” Violet asked him. “Do you think they would still have taken Pash if they weren’t looking for Riley?”
No, they wouldn’t have. Riley began to cry.
Gabe pulled her closer to himself and hissed at Violet. Her eyes grew wide and she scrambled away from him.
“Guys, please!” Xander yelled. “Let’s not do this.”
Reed was standing in the doorway of the men’s side with his arms crossed. He looked at Riley, curled up on Gabe’s lap, with face that was nothing but morose. Then he looked at Violet, his expression becoming puzzled.
Violet was visibly uncomfortable with his scrutiny. She shrank away from his gaze.
Footsteps on the porch announced Owen’s arrival. He stepped inside and wiped his eyes, then he adjusted his ball cap. “X, the elders want you. I’ll hold down the fort.”
As Xander walked outside, Owen glanced around the room at everyone. His gaze stopped on Reed. “You must be the other half of the Wonder Twins, the one who spent the last few weeks doing flyovers of the Cut for us.” He walked over and put out his hand. “Owen Reese.”
“Reed Thornton.”
The two men shook hands.
“Thank you.” Owen’s voice trembled. “Susanna says you’ve been doing a helluva job.”
“I wish it had made a difference,” Reed said quietly.
Owen shook his head. “You helped. You don’t owe this clan a thing, but you went out on a limb for us and risked your life in the process. You kept a bad situation from being much worse. We appreciate you.”
Oh, bless him!
“Thanks,” Reed said softly.
Owen glanced around the room at everyone’s faces, then walked toward the kitchen. “Does anyone else want a beer while I’m up?”
“Me,” Darren and Belman said in unison.
“No.” Violet wiped her eyes. “If I start drinking tonight, I won’t stop.”
“Me either,” Perry said.
“None for me!” Alley yelled from the bedroom.
Gabe and Celia shook their heads, too.
“Is Katrina back yet?” Darren asked Owen.
“She’s sitting with the chief.” Owen said as he returned. He passed beer to Darren and to Belman. “I’m sure she’ll stay up there until the elders have finished meeting about this. Matthew will want her to, anyway… she’s the best person in this clan at keeping James from wandering out into left field.”
Darren frowned.
Everyone sat in silence for the next several minutes. The low thump of footsteps and the periodic crackling of the fire were the only sounds Riley heard. Reed and Owen paced around the floor to let out their nervous energy. Everyone else sat still and stared into the flames.
“Here they come,” Gabe finally said.
“All four of them,” Celia added.
A minute or so later, Riley heard Susanna’s voice. Xander opened the door and held it for Katrina, Susanna and Ivan. Once they’d stepped inside, he closed the door and leaned against it with his eyes closed.
“Well?” Violet asked.
“Nothing unpredictable,” Susanna replied. “Cats and canids have been placed on foot patrol. Fliers will watch from the skies, and everyone else will stay indoors where it’s safe. The elders are going out now and will do all of tonight’s patrols. We’ll begin our turns in the morning. Until then, we are to rest.”
“What are canids?” Riley whispered to Gabe.
“Dog-like creatures. Wolves, coyotes and foxes, she means,” he explained.
“A few hours after they took Clarinda, they sent the chief a message,” Susanna continued. “He hasn’t received a message this time. They’re waiting to see if they get one before they make any other decisions.”
“What kind of message?” Perry asked.
“Demands,” Xander said softly.
Me. They want ME. And they’re never going to stop, unless…
Riley pulled away from Gabe and stood. “Take me to see the elders.”
Xander shook his head. “No.”
“Now!” she shouted.
Susanna’s jaw dropped.
Xander bit back an oath and stepped away from the door. Riley stormed past him and went outside.
“What are you doing?” Gabe called to her.
“Riley, don’t you dare!” Reed yelled.
She ignored them. She heard several sets of footsteps behind her as she ran as fast as she could — not very — up the hill. Once she was inside the dining hall, she walked straight to the fire where the Colonel, Chief James, and a few of the other elders were still seated.
They stopped talking and looked up as she approached.
“I’ll do it,” Riley said breathlessly to Colonel Matthew. “I will turn myself over to the Poxinosa if they will agree to leave Greenwood in peace.”
The elders all stared at her, speechless.
“NO!” Reed shouted.
The Colonel took off his glasses and motioned for Riley to come closer. Once she had, he took her hand. “I admire your bravery. But that is out of the question.”
“Why?” Riley demanded, fighting despair. “If it will make them stop, then why can’t I—”
“It won’t,” the Colonel interrupted her, shaking his head. “It won’t make them stop. You are not the one they’re after. You’re not the teleporter.” He put his glasses back on and looked up at her. “If we turn you over to the Poxinosa and you don’t teleport for them, they won’t assume you’re being stubborn. They’ll think we deceived them, that we sent them the wrong warrior on purpose. They will torture you and kill you, and as soon as they’re finished, they’ll resume their attacks on the rest of us.”
Reed stalked over and grabbed her by the arm. “You’re out of your mind!” he said, shaking badly. “Look, I’ve been inside the Cut.” Riley gasped, and so did some of the others, as he continued, “Jack took me there yesterday. I’ve met these men. I know what they’re doing to her... what they would do to you if they could. Don’t you dare give in to them!”
A tear trickled down Xander’s face as he stared speechlessly at Reed.
“Children, please go back to the Lodge and get some rest,” Chief James said kindly. “We will let you know as soon as we have news.”
Reed tugged at Riley’s elbow, and she turned toward the door. When she did, she saw that all of the young warriors had followed her up the hill. They were staring at her and at Reed, their expressions uniformly shocked.
She ignored their stares and walked back toward the door.
“Riley?”
She looked back at the Colonel.
“Thank you.”
She nodded.
As she slowly followed everyone else back to the Lodge, Gabe moved to one side of her and Reed to the other. Each of them began threatening to lock her up if she ever did anything like that again. Their words ran together; she tuned them both out.
Xander was standing at the far end of the porch when they returned. He had his hands on the railing and was staring at the ground. Even from behind, he looked defeated.
Riley walked past the Lodge door and stood beside him.
“Come inside,” Gabe insisted.
“In a minute. You guys go on.”
“After what you did? No way!”
She glanced over her shoulder. Gabe and Reed were both glaring at her, both still angry.
“I’ll stay right here with Xander. I promise.”
Still frowning, they went inside.
Once the door closed, Riley slowly leaned her head sideways until it was resting on Xander’s arm. He didn’t react in any way, but she knew he wanted her there. He would have shrugged her off if he didn’t.
They stood together in silence. The cold was miserable, but it felt right. Misery was their reality. The only warmth in Riley at that moment was the warmth she felt against Xander. The warmth of connection.
“Riley, please come inside,” Gabe called out a minute later.
She kissed Xander’s arm where her head had been. Then she went into the Lodge.
—HIDE—
Gabe sat down in his normal spot on the couch and pulled her onto his lap. Riley held him, turning her face away from everyone else.
If everyone is right, then at this very moment Pashika is being tortured to death for information about me.
Are Jack and Will involved in this?
What should I do if they are?
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