Awakening: A Timeless Series Novel, Book Four (2 page)

Did
he understand? If any of them might, he would. He knew my parents, knew what they were up against. Surely he’d understand their train of thought. He looked back up, but his hazel eyes grew distant.

“Do you realize what you’ve done, Cheyenne?
You’ve also given Marcus the Consilador’s powers.”

I swallowed. He was my last hope, the one I thought might side with me, but he didn’t.
Nakari moved stood beside Lilly, placing her arm around the older woman’s shoulder. Tears streamed down Lilly’s cheeks. I’d disappointed her, again. Another new arrival approached to stand beside Lilly. Layla was here too. She wouldn’t look at me, not that she needed to for me to know what she was thinking. I’d caught a small glimpse of the shock and dismay she tried to hide, but couldn’t.

“But…”
I tried to say.

Brogan cut me off, pushing Layla, Lilly
, and Nakari behind him and towering over me. “But what, princess? You’ve said enough already. There are no more words for your betrayal.”

I
wanted to say so many things, tell them how sorry I was, that I’d work to gain the Consilador’s powers back, but I knew it didn’t matter. I’d already apologized to the group, and it didn’t change a thing. I was in this alone. I was the one who had betrayed their trust. I was the one who’d most likely destroy them all. I was no better than Marcus.

Dex turned and walked away, shaking his head in disbelief.

It was too much, and I pinched my eyes closed for a moment. I shoved Daniel off and ran towards the forest. The best thing I could do was leave them, for their own safety.

“Stop
her!” Brogan yelled.

Colt caught
me by the arm and pressed me into his chest, holding me close. My fingers knotted into his shirt. His hand began stroking my back as my tears continued to fall. It was bad enough being a failure to everyone, but I couldn’t bear the complete and utter despair Dex and Lilly had shown me. It hurt too deeply.

“Give Dex time, Cheyenne,” Colt said. “
They both need time to understand it.”

“Even
you don’t understand it, Colt!” I snapped and shoved him back. “You think it was a mistake. You just said so.”

He
didn’t reply, but instead pressed me close again, resting his chin on my head.

“Leave
me here. Let Marcus find me,” I whispered in defeat. “It’ll be safer for everyone...”

“No!” Colt’s hold grew tight. “
I just got you back. I’m not letting go again. We’ll find a way around this, I promise.”

The only way
I saw around this resulted in death, their deaths.

“
We need to leave,” Daniel reminded us.

Colt released
me, but instead of leading me to Koda, he helped me mount Sam.

“
She rides with Koda, Colt,” Brogan said stalking closer.

Colt ignored
him and mounted behind me.

“
We’re not being followed, and she’s not going anywhere. She’s riding with me,” Colt said.

Brogan’s jaw firmed
, and his brown eyes darkened. “We’re not being followed because Marcus already has what he wants—her powers! He’ll come for her, mark my words. He’ll want to remove the weak link.”

“Let
it go, Brogan,” Koda said, moving between us.

Brogan was right.
I was the weak link…

Maes’s jade-rimmed eyes narrowed for a moment, and
then he shifted into his Tresez form before leading us off into the forest again. Layla rode beside Brogan and touched his arm. He softened, but not before he gave me a sidelong glance. I was back to being lower than pond scum with him.

I’d worked hard, gained ground with him in Ireland, but everything had changed. Everything had been wiped away when I married Marcus, because he didn’t understand, and chances
were he wouldn’t understand until it was too late.

Colt kept
me close as we rode, his chin leaning against my head. His familiar woodsy scent drifted around me, and I couldn’t help but inhale. Regardless of all that had transpired, I’d missed him, but I was married now and everyone around me was in danger…especially Colt and Callon. They would be Marcus’s first targets, unless I kept my distance. But Marcus wasn’t here right now, and Callon was gone. He’d deserted me, us.

I’d thought he’d merely gone for a walk, to cool off,
but he still hadn’t returned to our group. Even if he did, it wouldn’t change a thing. I knew he’d refuse to make eye contact with me. He was angry, hurt, and powerless, all because of me. I’d handed over not only his powers, but the entire Consilador clan’s powers. Even though it hadn’t been intentional, the fact remained. I’d left them unprotected, unable to defend themselves—trapped, just like me.

But surely I could change their fate, unlike mine, and get their powers back…I just had to figure out how
, and Callon was my best shot at figuring out the how.

Afternoon transitioned to evening
, and the forest grew darker. We didn’t stop, and neither had the pain in my skull. I could feel myself growing weaker. I glanced around, searching for Callon.“Will he come back, Colt?” I asked.

“
I don’t know,” he replied, “and I can’t ask him, either.”

I
pressed my eyes closed for a moment. He’d lost his telepathy because of me.

“
I’m sorry,” I murmured.

“It’s going to take time, sweetheart, time for everyone to come to grips with this new situation.”

Situation,
he said, but I knew it was their death sentence.

He
sighed and kissed my head.

“
You’re exhausted. I know how long it took you to recover from the failed bonding with Callon. I also know the joining of powers is going to be worse for you. We’re not going to stop, so close your eyes and rest. Marcus isn’t coming.”

Marcus wasn’t coming…at least not now, but he would
. It was only a matter of time.

I
didn’t want to listen to Colt’s advice, but as each hour passed, it was becoming harder and harder to keep my eyes open. Charlie snorted beside us and Daniel stretched out his arm, handing me a small blanket.

“This will help keep
you warm, Cheyenne.” The moonlight shone through the trees, letting me see his sad eyes. “I didn’t know how we’d find you. I—I wanted to bring you something that reminded you of home.”

“Thank
you,” I whispered, close to tears once again. Daniel, my brother, was always thinking of me. He didn’t care what the others would say.

Colt helped drape the blanket over
me, and I huddled into his chest. The rhythmic sounds of his breathing, bringing back memories of how it used to be before my life had been turned upside down, helped lull me to sleep.

My
hands drifted over the soft grass of the valley, which tickled my palms. A mountain lake lay ahead. The clear skies caused the sun’s rays to dance over the water as if it were glass. Not a ripple distorted the surface; it was perfect, just like this moment.

A tall figure moved in the distance, but
I wasn’t concerned. I knew who was coming toward me, Callon. His brown wavy hair framed his face perfectly. His white shirt was unbuttoned, exposing his brawny tanned chest. His khaki pants hugged his frame well. A smile emerged from his rugged features, his hazel eyes lit up as he neared, and he stretched out a hand for me to join him.

I
had no fears here. For once, my heart felt light and carefree. For once, my heart was singing with happiness. A small breeze drifted over us, and I inhaled the scent of wildflowers. I closed my eyes, wanting to lock this moment away, this perfect moment, this perfect place.

Thunder
suddenly rolled across the sky, and my eyes shot open to see lightning illuminating black clouds. A howling wind swept over the valley, knocking me to the ground. I fought to stand.

I
struggled to my feet as lightning-laden clouds dropped from the skies. The earth shook from the thunderous blasts, and Callon tumbled to the valley floor.

“No!”
I screamed as I ran towards him.

A lightning bolt sizzled beside
me, tossing me to the side. I crawled to my feet again as the raging storm heightened. A crack of lightning whipped its way across the sky and smacked into Callon. I lost my breath as I watched his body fly through the air. Another strip of lightning snapped at his chest, and then another and another.

“No, Callon! No!” A gut
-wrenching bellow came from within.

I
threw my hands out, summoning the winds and light, but nothing happened. I gritted my teeth and fought to pull out that crimson-eyed creature, but it remained dormant. Nothing came to life.

Hands grabbed at
me, strong hands that wanted to force me down, force me to submit.

You have nothing, my angel,
a voice whispered near my ear.
What you have will be taken from you…they’ll die. You no longer have control, I do.

That voice…
Marcus!

I
struggled to turn and face him, to claw at his eyes, but with each movement I made, I was knocked back down to the valley floor.

“Cheyenne!” a deep voice roared. “Cheyenne! Wake
up!”

“No
!” I fought the arms that held me down. “I’ll kill you!”

“Cheyenne.” A soft hand touched
my cheek, stroking it. “Cheyenne, it’s okay. It was just a dream.”

I
blinked, my eyes focusing in on the faces around me, and my lower lip began to tremble. Lilly held my cheek, her blue eyes filled with tears. The hands that had me pinned down began to loosen. Koda and Brogan stood, their shoulders tense, ready to leap again if needed. Maes released my legs, his eyes narrowing as he studied me. Daniel and Colt knelt by my head, their eyes wide. Colt opened his mouth to speak and then closed it.

I
turned away and rolled to my side. What had I done? What had happened?

“Callon,”
I whispered. I’d witnessed Callon’s death—a horrid death, and Marcus, he’d been there. He’d spoken to me.

I
couldn’t hide the terror in my eyes; they’d all seen it. But it was a dream; it wasn’t real…or was it? Was this a vision of what was to come?

“Cheyenne?” Dex
gently tugged on my arm to roll me over. “Cheyenne, let me take a look at you.”

I
sat up and pushed him away, panting for air. Callon, I needed Callon right now. I needed to know he was still alive, that what I’d seen wasn’t real. I needed to tell him I’d fix everything. I’d make it right in his eyes again…he just had to give me time.

“Callon,
I need to see Callon.”

“
He’s not here, Cheyenne,” Colt replied.

I
pulled my legs to my chest and began to rock.

W
here was he? Shouldn’t he have come back by now? I looked up and took in my surroundings. We weren’t in the forest anymore. We were in a small meadow and a large stone building lay ahead. The sun’s rays were peaking over the mountaintop that sat behind it.

How long
had I been out? How many days did I lose? And how many days had Callon been gone?

I
rose only to stumble. Colt quickly caught my arm, and I fought to push him away. He released me, but stayed nearby. I pushed past the group and made my way towards the abandoned building.

My
hand shook as I brushed blond wisps of hair back. I couldn’t handle the stares, the fear they expressed. I needed something concrete to focus on, and the new landscape was the only available option. Colt didn’t speak. He and Daniel walked beside me, scared I’d break, just as scared as I was.

The old stonework was beginning to crumble; the many large windows facing
us were covered in years of dirt and decay. A large stone stairway led to two enormous steel doors. Several smaller outbuildings stood nearby, and what looked like a corral and stables.

I
stepped towards the building, which appeared to be an old mine, and stopped at a small creek’s edge.

Wherever here was, I was sure
we were going to stay awhile, but why?

Maes stepped in front of
me, but I kept my gaze on the water.

“
I need you to wait here. We need to clear the building first,” Maes said.

I
didn’t reply as Maes and Brogan moved past me. I’d stand here and wait like I’d been told. I didn’t need to give them any more reasons not to trust me, especially after that nightmare.

My eyes misted.
It had all amounted to nothing in the end. The fact was that even though I was Timeless, after all the secrets that had been kept from me, after all the time I’d spent in hiding, nothing had changed. I was still trapped in a destiny I couldn’t control, and the ones I loved most were going to suffer for it.