Chapter 15
Cal had a headache. And a heartache.
The heartache hurt worse.
He’d been looking for his brother, about to tell him what Nojan had found out, when he’d been sidetracked by the whole Gemma thing. Even now, he hated being parted from her.
He found Juston in his room, staring at the ceiling as he lay in bed. “How did you miss all that hullabaloo?” he asked.
Juston shrugged. “I was thinking.”
Cal let out a snort. “That must be a new sensation for you.”
Juston formed his fingers into an obscene gesture. “What do you want, Calabez? What took you so long to get back here?”
“Nojan called just after you left. He informed me that his lovely wife and he had figured out the whole puzzle.”
“And?”
Juston sounded as unimpressed as Cal felt. “The Seekers are here already. So is the Guardian. Except she doesn’t know she’s the Guardian. She has to be awakened.”
Juston frowned. “Let me guess. The medical staff? They’re the Seekers.”
“Ten points to the younger brother.”
“Thought so.” Juston sat up. “And the Guardian, that’s Gemma.”
Cal started. How had Juston figured it out when he hadn’t? “What makes you say that?”
“The whole awakening thing. I assume you’ve got to fuck her, right? To wake her up? Like Mayra? Well, I knowsomething’sgoing on with the two of you, and she wants it pretty bad. It would make sense that she’s the Guardian.”
“I don’t have to fuck her. I don’t even know that she’s the Guardian. It could be anyone.”
“Why so defensive, bro?” Juston ran a hand through his hair. “Is it because she’s in a loony bin? Maybe she can’t help it. It’s likely that she was misdiagnosed. Something about the spirit inside her probably screwed with her wiring. But after you fuck her, it will all turn out right. Like Mayra.”
Cal didn’t like to hear his brother talking so casually about fucking Gemma. “What makes you so sure?”
“Look,” Juston growled. “What choice have we got? The Seekers are going to come down on us like a hammer as soon as we reveal the existence of the Guardian. I’m surprised they haven’t caught on yet, but you can bet it won’t take them long now.”
Juston stood, stalking closer. “You need to fuck Gemma immediately, confirm that she’s the Guardian, and then hope that she can use whatever powers she has to get us out of here.”
“Stop saying that!” Cal yelled, then took a breath. In a calmer tone, he continued. “And what about my powers? They’re still missing, remember?”
“I’m sorry to say this bro, but she’s more important than you or your powers. So just fuck her and let’s figure out how to get the hell off this dusty red rock.”
“I swear to the gods, if you say that one more time—”
Juston’s face was carved from ice. “Either you fuck her or I will. I mean it.”
Cal didn’t realize he was about to punch his brother until his fist was already connecting with Juston’s jaw. His reaction was that fast, that automatic.
Juston rubbed his jaw. “Thenyoufuck her. But it’s got to be soon, or we’re never getting out of here.”
“What’s your problem?” Cal asked, rubbing his aching hand. “What’s pissed you off and made you ready to get off world at any cost?”
“I’m sick of this place. Sick of the evil fuckers running it. I can’t take much more of this.”
“Maybe a certain demon female has got you ready to flee?” His head rocked back on his neck when Juston’s fist connected with his jaw. “Okay, I deserved that.”
