Page 69 of Anywhere

Her eyes flicked to mine. “And changing these stupid laws that suppress the Faction women. It may seem unfair to put that on you, but you’re one of the few who feel as strongly as the women do that it is wrong. Not just me, but dozens now and hundreds in the future are depending on your help.”

“Aye, I know,” I said.

We raced along the winding road, hitting puddles and spraying water from the earlier rain into the air. The sky was still a dark grey and promised more of the same blinding rain and angry thunder before the day was done.

“Do you think you can eventually love him?”

I didn’t want to answer that question, but we’d always been honest with one another, and lying to her felt wrong.

“Aye, I do. Da attraction is strong, and I do like him. Over time, I know it will turn into more than simply physical pull. The pain that he created is startin’ ta subside wit him here,” I said, my hands tightened on the wheel. “Dat does no’ mean dat my feelin’s fir ya will turn ta dust.”

“No. Dust is good. My hope is that you will fall madly in love with the two of them and forget about me completely.”

“Is it?”

Mari looked over and shrugged. “I’m not saying this to be a martyr. I truly want it to happen. You should be happy, but I also know that with you as a head member of the council, the Faction will shift and become better. The spirits see it. That’s why they paired you and Rook together. I don’t know enough about Elewyen yet, but I’m sure she is perfect for you two as well.”

“Where is dis comin’ from, Mari? Ya’ve seen somethin’, haven’t ya?”

She looked away from my eyes, and a trickle of fear travelled down my spine.

“Tell me what ya saw.”

“No. What I’ve seen is for my mind alone, and the rest has yet to be seen. To adjust course based on bits and pieces of a vision is dangerous. Just trust me when I tell you that you’re on the right path. We are both on the path we need to be on.”

“Forgive me if I continue ta worry. When ya get all cagey like dis, me mind conjures far worse tings than what’s da truth.”

“Okay, I will tell you this. Rook is strong, and despite his arrogant and argumentative nature, he has a good heart, but he’s unguided. He’s been allowed to live as a Flitter who just happens to know magic exists. That’s dangerous, Rhys. It’s the one thing that truly worries me about this union for you. Will he put the entire Faction at risk with his own selfishness?” She rolled her shoulder and winced. I stared at her but whatever was bothering her seemed to disappear in an instant.

“From the moment I met my cousin, I thought him an equal match in all ways, but his heart doesn’t align with the Faction and those he’s supposed to protect. That also means you and now Elewyen. I’ve seen both roads in your future, Rhys. The one where your triad is strong and the three of ya stand side by side together. I’ve also seen one where Rook is not around because he couldn’t handle this life. Both of those versions live inside of Rook, and as the number two, it is your job to make sure he decides not to bolt.”

“Yer not speakin’ anythin’ dat I ‘ave no’ already thought meself. I see both sides ta him starin’ back at me from his eyes.”

Mari suddenly sat straight and pointed toward a side road. “Over there. Look. There is still a thin stream of smoke behind the trees.”

I steered the car on to the side road, and it didn’t take long to find the next turn. We pulled up to a smoking village much like the other had been. Everything was charred and turned to ash.

“What in the spirits?” Mari said, her eyes wide as the car came to a stop. “Who would do this, and why?”

“I dinnie know.” Pushing open the door, I stepped out, and Mari followed.

“You don’t think this is the Hunters, do you?” Mari asked, looking around, and I knew she was assessing for any threats.

“I dinnie know. It’s no’ their style ta kill Flitters. They be Flitters and all for dose without magic but anythin’ is possible when yer tryin’ ta start a revolution. Me feelin’ is that this be another Faction.”

As I knelt among those who had died, it was clear that this couldn’t have been the work of Hunters or even a random arsonist. The flames had burned too hot and travelled at unimaginable speeds. Magic had set this fire. There was no other way to kill this many people all in one go without them all trapped in a building or two.

Smoking posts remained where some villagers had been tied up as sacrifices. Kill the few to use the power of the sacrifice to kill the many. I hadn’t seen this level of cruelty before, but I’d read about it in the books of war in the library. This had Faction One all over it. They were the Faction that controlled the elements. But why now? Why this, and why us?

“Oh shit! Rhys, look,” Mari said, breaking me of my thoughts.

My eyes followed where she was pointing. As soon as I spotted the smoldering fields, my heart sank.

“We need ta go and check somethin’, but I’ma prayin’ dat I’m wrong.”

We jogged back to the car. The worry that had begun to gnaw at my gut now sat heavy like a rock. Pulling away from the village, I whipped onto the road and flew toward the other end of the island. My eyes darting to all the driveways and roads where hunters like to hide.

“Where are we going?” Mari asked.