We’ve been walking fornearly a day. We're so close to the outpost that my nerves are starting to build. I want my brother back so badly. I can’t be in this world without him. I need his help in finding Mel. While I’m pissed at him for the first time, for going out alone. I also understand why he did it. He was trying to protect me.
He must know that I’m not a child anymore though. He wasn’t even there for my ascension. I hope he’s proud of the abilities I’ve gained. We kind of knew I would be a shifter, just like most of the males in our family. I’m also an elemental, which we figured early on as well. I can wield fire just like him and Ma. On top of that, I haveunnatural speed, even for a shifter, which is something. I can’t wait to see his face when I tell him. We’re at least one step closer.
“It’s just around this group of trees,” I tell Kait and Rae. We are coming up on the outpost we use mostly for hunting, but occasionally it’s used for sentries when we need more eyes on the outer border due to increased activity. When we get to the point where we can see the cabin, I notice there is smoke coming from the chimney. My brows knit together in confusion. Normally, even when we need to use this place for sentry duty, Dax and I are the only ones who use it.
I urge the girls to stay quiet as we near the outpost. Rae has a look of concern on her face, and that’s all I need to see to know that there is a vibe happening that is causing that concern. We need to move as silently as possible. “Stay together. Let’s move around back and get a view through the window there and see who’s using the outpost, just in case.” I whisper
Kait nods, then jerks her head to Rae, indicating to follow her. Rae falls in step behind her, and I take up the back. “We all stick together.” I reiterate. Rae and Kait both nod as we continue to the back of the cabin. It’s as if all of Rae’s training has remained untouched by her memory loss. I know she had some before she came to Ravendene, but she has trained extensively throughout the time she has spent with us. We move as a unit to check on things.
There is a sentry in the tree stand in the front. Pointing to the tree canopy, Kait jerks her head to the side to follow her, and we skirt around to avoid his view. She stops right before a window near the back door. Crouching down, I shuffle to get past the girls and the window so I can be her cover as she tries to open it. Before we getthe window open, an ear-splitting howl breaks out in the trees in the distance, just as the wind picks up.
The sound spooks us, and we drop to the ground in a crouch and press our backs against the cabin. Rae is the first to speak. “Guys, remember that tingling feeling I get? Well, it's back. Something’s up.” She’s breathing a little rough, and I see a sheen of sweat starting to develop on her forehead.
“We should trust the instinct. Does it tell you to run? Fight? What kind of danger, specifically? I’m not sure how this works.” I frantically whisper as my eyes trace the trees at the edge of the property.
Thunder booms in the distance, and the wind picks up further. “Don’t answer that. This storm doesn’t feel natural. Maybe that's what you’re picking up on. There is a cave system just to the south. It's where Ravendene meets the sea. If, for any reason, we must run, that’s where we meet. Agreed?" I have to whisper yell because of the wind whipping through where we are.
“Agreed,” Rae nods. Kait gives me a dip of her chin as well.
Rae turns to try the window, but it's locked. “Do you see anything or anyone recognizable?” Urgh. Memory is gone. “Sorry, don’t answer that either.” I pop up so I can see through the window just as two people walk through the room. Its Cano. Fuck, what is he doing here? The other person is still standing in the shadows and wearing a cloak with the hood drawn up, so I can’t make out their features. Cano towers over the other person, but that’s not something telling because, at his height, he is taller than most in Ravendene, aside from Dax and myself.
I look over to Rae; she’s watching intently, but I don’t think she recognizes Cano. “Rae. It's Cano. He can’t find us herebefore we get the other items.” Her eyes dart from me to where Cano stands. Her brow furrowed deep as she tries to recognize him. Concern turns to worry on her face as she bites down on her lip and turns back to face me. She shakes her head the tiniest amount, indicating she doesn't recognize him. My lips curve up into a placating smile as I continue. “If he finds us out, it’s endgame on this mission. He’s going to be pissed, and I wouldn’t doubt if he threw us into a holding cell for a while for disobeying.” Rae looks back to Cano, and a sparkle of emotion enters her eyes. Maybe she does recognize Cano? There was speculation that they are mates… Perhaps because she is so close to her ascension, the mating bond is becoming stronger… but they don’t bare the mark of bonded mates yet, but fuck, if that’s the case, he could sense her, and then we will all be screwed.
Before I say anything, Rae leans in close to me. I lean toward her to hear what she is going to say. “Both of them. They are the danger. My body is on fire right now, with a warning blazing through my awareness. The cloaked person is giving me the same feeling I had in the tunnels back at the Demetrey territory.” She looks at me then; her eyes are wide, but there is no fear there.
“Rae, are you sure it’s a danger you’re feeling from both of them?” I ask.
“Positive.”
Kait, who’s been watching Rae and myself, gets curious enough that she peeks up through the window. She gasps and drops back down with her back against the cabin. “You feel danger coming from Cano?” Kait asks, wide eyes locked on Rae. Rae’s head cranes to the right to look at Kait, but before she can say anything, I pull her down to me and slap my hand over her mouth, pointingtoward the window. I bring a finger in front of my lips, telling both to be quiet. The cloaked person has walked right in front of the window we are hiding under. If they look outside, they are likely to see us.
Before I get a chance to refuse, Kait is rising slightly and shuffling toward the end of the wall. She jerks her head toward it, indicating we should follow her. I see the path that she is aiming for, and realize we are close to the outside cellar entrance. It’s a good idea, but we will likely need to pick or break the lock. I’m happy that this storm is distracting from any noise we make, even though it's eerie as hell. Especially if it comes to us breaking the lock.
Kait stands fully upright, but as she starts to run to the cellar doors, she’s intercepted by a sentry making his rounds. With no weapons, it's inevitable she is going to be captured, but she won’t go without a fight. The look on her face says she knows that as well. We make eye contact briefly as she looks back at us. She nods. Then she faces her opponent. She’s giving us a chance to get out of here, but once they catch her, they will be searching for us. They know we left together. Cano has to know by now that we are gone.
Rae spins toward me and grabs my hand. I guess she’s got an idea, so I follow with no argument. We run about 20 feet, then she drops to her stomach and shimmies under the deck that leads to the side entrance of the house through a mudroom. I see what she’s thinking as we both get under cover.
“I can fit. I can get in,” she whispers to me.
I shake my head in denial and look around us for any other choice. There isn’t one. My gut clenches as I think of how bad ofan idea this is, but it's currently the only one we have. I need to trust that Rae can get this done and get the cure back to Dax.
“Okay, listen Rae. You don’t have your memory, but you are smart, and I know you can do this.” She dips her chin and determination fills her gaze. “I’m going to go help Kait and cause a distraction for you. Get into the storage room, get the dagger, and get out. It’s on the main level, just off the kitchen…There’s a hallway. It’s the first door on the right. It will most likely be locked.”
I reach into my pocket and grab the small flick knife I keep there. “Use this to pick the lock and for protection.” I hand it over to her. “Get the dagger. You won’t be able to confuse it with any other. It has a white silver blade, and the handle is leather-wrapped. There is a moonstone inlaid with fine detail at the base of the hilt. It’s very intricate and beautiful. There should be a sheath you can use in the room as well. After you get it, get out right away. Head north and don’t stop.” Raelle nods again. “You will come to a clearing in the trees where a single willow stands near the edge of a cliff that meets the Creale Sea. The land there was blessed by the gods. Collect some soil, and then head southeast to Ravendene. It will be a full day and night's travel on foot. I’m sorry we couldn’t do this together, but I trust you, like family, to do this for my brother.” Her eyes brimming with emotion, she lays her hand atop mine, a wry smile on her face as she gives me her understanding, but I pull her into an awkward hug before I let her go. “Don’t stop, Rae. Save Dax.” I whisper.
When I let her go, our eyes meet, “I won't let you down, Trent.” Steely determination is written across herfeatures.
She will get it done; I know it. I help her remove the vent covering and ease her down into the basement of the cabin. Before she lets go of my hand, she squeezes and whispers to me, “I will save your brother, Trent; then we will find your sister. Stay safe, stay strong.”
I brush my thumb over the back of her hand. “There is something else; as you know, the male upstairs we saw was Cano, but I don’t know what’s going on, Rae. I get the distinct feeling that neither he nor his men can be trusted right now. Trust your intuition. Your ascension is starting, the feeling you get, the tingle of awareness? It’s your power speaking to you; I’m almost sure of it. Listen to it, Rae. Dax will be in the infirmary in Ravendene. Act casually if you see anyone when you return since you don’t remember who’s who, but try not to be seen at all if you can manage.”
“I got this.” She says, then turns to leave but stops spinning around to face me once more. “Wait! How do I make the elixir?”
“That I’m not exactly sure about. You’ll need to get the book. You kept it in your home back at Ravendene.”
“I’ll figure it out.” She nods curtly.
“I know you will. I trust you.” I give her a warm smile before we separate—like we said we wouldn’t. If there was any other choice I’d choose it, but Kait needs my help.
