Perilous Light (18 page)

“
Wait. You’re admitting you were wrong?” Something told me that was a rare occurrence.

“
Don’t get used to it. It won’t happen again.”

I panicked for a second, thinking she meant the kiss, but then she leaned over and kissed me again. The second kiss didn’t get quite as intense as the first, but it was still unreal.

“
So what changed your mind? I mean, in what way were you wrong about me?”

“
I thought you were weak.” She paused. “But no weak man could have handled what you have in the last few days, nor manage a kiss like that.”

“
You thought I was weak?”

“
Not physically weak, Kevin. Although I did easily take you down the first time we met.” I cringed at the memory of her knocking me around. “I mean weak in other ways. I honestly did not know whether you had it in you to be a true leader. I was wrong.”

“
I’m glad you think so.”

“
I know so. We are going to pull through this.”

“
You think?” I was feeling a heck of a lot more confident after kissing her, so I was really asking rhetorically.

“
Yes. But for now, let us focus on something else.”

“
Like what?”

“
On us.” We both leaned in at the same time. I knew it was going to be a good night.

Chapter Nineteen

Charlotte

It felt like pushing through a fog when I opened my eyes to find myself in Calvin’s arms. “You’re still here.” It took so much effort to get the words out.

“
Yes, I am with you now and always.” Calvin smiled, readjusting me so I could sit up.

I tried to forget everything else for a moment and simply enjoy being close to him. As the fog cleared, I felt alert, the exhaustion of earlier having melted away. Memories from Icentris flooded me, and I wondered how long I had been out.

I looked around and right into Liam’s eyes.

“
I’m so glad you’re okay.” Liam smiled as he stood up. “When you feel strong enough, your mom is over there.” Liam pointed behind him.

I got my first sight of my mother, and a wave of emotion hit me. She looked older and weaker, but otherwise she looked like Mom. I wriggled out of Calvin’s arms. He resisted at first, but when he realized where I wanted to go, he loosened his hold.

I walked over to my mother, looking at Monty briefly to make sure it was okay. He nodded. “Mom?” I touched the side of her face with my palm, afraid I would somehow break her if I wasn’t careful. She looked as though she were sleeping, but I knew it was something more. I hoped my touch would cure her, as it had helped Ruth, but my touch did nothing. Mom needed more energy. I closed my eyes and tried to picture my energy flowing into her. I began to feel lightheaded and weak, as though I might faint, but Calvin’s familiar arms steadied me from behind.

“
Charlotte?” Mom’s blue eyes fluttered open, and she looked at me with confusion. She tried to sit up, but after struggling for a moment gave up and remained lying down.

“
Relax, Emma. Take it slow.” Monty’s face glowed.

“
Monty? What’s going on?” Mom struggled again, so Monty helped her sit up. She looked around her nervously.

“
Where are we? Are we…? Wait, but how…?” My mom put her palms to the side of my face. “Charlotte? But you are all grown up. And your eyes…”

“
Emma, you have been out for a long time.”

Mom dropped her hands at Monty’s words. “How long? How can Charlotte be the Essence? It is too soon. And is that your Gerard? My little Charlotte has a Gerard?” Mom looked as if she might pass out.

James ambled over to us. “My father kidnapped you and had you in a coma for about four years. You were held captive at Icentris. I brought Charlotte into Energo a year ago and helped her find you.”

“
Your father?” Mom blinked. “So you are Blake’s son?”

“
I know what you are thinking. Let me explain. I helped Charlotte escape. I am one of her Guardians, and I am loyal to my job.”

My mother considered Lawson quizzically. “Are you another Guardian?”

“
No. My younger brother is, though. He is with your son.”

“
My son? Kevin? Where is Kevin?” Mom frantically looked around again, as though she expected to find him in the cave.

“
Theodore sent Kevin to meet with the Pact council to get support for the resistance against Blake,” Monty said.

“
Defeat Blake? Why would we need the Pact?” Mom looked over my head at Calvin. “Are you not in charge now?”

“
Unfortunately, I did not put enough faith in my Essence and allowed Blake to maintain control.” I could tell how hard it was for Calvin to tell my mother that.

“
Blake has become so powerful that we have no chance of defeating him without the Pact?” Mom asked alarmed.“But why are you here to begin with? How did Charlotte and Kevin even get involved?”

“
I met James when we moved back home—”

She interrupted, “
Back
home? When did you leave home?”

“
We spent three years in Alaska,” I said quietly.

Her brow wrinkled in confusion. “Why Alaska?”

“
Stan took the kids there to do research after you… went missing.” Monty fidgeted uncomfortably.

“
Did you not realize where I went? I mean, Stan knew that I did not…” Panic crossed Mom’s face. It was just like her to worry more about the effect something had on everyone else rather than on what she went through herself.

“
We assumed. The kids thought you…” Monty started.

“
That I what?” she asked.

“
We thought you died.” It was easier to say it while sitting next to her, but thinking about it still brought back the painful memories of loss.

“
Oh, my goodness.” Mom pulled me toward her, and I relaxed into her embrace. Calvin backed up, giving us the space we needed. It felt so good to be held by her again. Tears started to slide down my face, but I didn’t try to stop them. “I am so sorry, Charlotte. That must have been so hard for you. I never warned you. We never thought… we were only trying to protect you.”

“
I know, Mom.” Being with my mom again was amazing, and I didn’t want to ruin it.

Mom noticed Liam. “Liam? What are you doing here?”

“
Well, that’s an interesting story—” Liam started.

Monty interrupted, “Liam is another one of Charlotte’s Guardians.” He grinned.

“
What? How?” My mother and I spoke simultaneously, our voices almost identical. In the seconds it took for Liam to respond, I convinced myself that I had misheard Monty.

Liam answered, “I don’t really know. I just found out myself when I picked up a Guardian sword. But to answer your first question, I’m here to protect Charlotte and help in any way I can.” Liam watched me as he spoke, and I was sure my mouth was hanging open. Liam, a Guardian? It didn’t make any sense. He wasn’t from Energo, nor was his family, as far as I knew.

“
Monty, how is this possible?” Mom sounded as lost as I was. That didn’t seem like a good sign.

“
I am not sure, but I have a hunch.”

“
Let’s hear it,” Liam said.

“
Did you two ever… well, did you two ever have any physical contact?” Monty looked from Liam to me.

“
Physical contact?” Oh, my gosh. I peered at Liam and could tell he was thinking the same thing I was—the kiss. Blushing, I looked down at the ground. Calvin’s arms tightened around me.

“
Yes, do I really need to elaborate?” Monty asked.

Without looking up, I answered, “Well, we kissed once. Or really, I kissed him right before we left for Alaska. I don’t know what came over me; it was supernatural or something.” I heard James laugh somewhere behind me.

“
Well, that explains it.” Monty said almost to himself.

“
Care to enlighten us?” Liam asked.

“
Nothing to worry about right now.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but after one glance at my mother’s tired eyes, I decided to let it go for the time being.

***

Hours later, I still hadn’t gotten used to all of the new information. I was shocked to discover that Liam was a Guardian, but on some level, it made perfect sense. Liam had already protected me fiercely before finding out he was a member of my Guard. I didn’t think anyone would have guessed that the last Guardian had been with us all along. All I knew was that there was no one I wanted on my Guard more.

Monty joined me as we finished packing up our gear. “You doing all right?”

I shrugged. “Yeah. Just a little shell-shocked.”

He chuckled. “Yeah, I can understand that.”

“
Things are never going to go back to normal, are they?”

“
Define
normal
.”

“
I guess I don’t know anymore.”

“
Neither do I, kid, neither do I.” Monty playfully tapped me on the shoulder before walking off.

I finished packing my stuff and headed to the mouth of the cave. We couldn’t spend much more time in the same spot, but I wasn’t ready to return to the Resistance. I hoped Mom would be able to train me in time. I didn’t know how much more I could take of potentially passing out if I used my abilities too much.

Mom walked beside me as we headed out. I shared as much energy with her as I could, but she was still weak.

“
You are going to be a good Essence, sweetheart.”

“
You sure about that?”

“
Positive. You just need guidance. I am amazed at how well you are doing without any training.” Mom smiled warmly, making me feel at ease.

“
Well, I had some help from Ruth.”

“
Ruth was such a wonderful woman. I am so glad you had the opportunity to meet her.” A cloud of sadness passed over her face. Ruth’s death was one of the things that had shaken Mom hardest when Monty filled her in on what she had missed the last few years.

“
Yes, she was. I know we don’t have time now, but will you tell me more about her later?”

“
Of course. We will have plenty of time for that.” Mom sounded so confident that it was contagious. I had forgotten how she had that effect on me.

We headed back through the prairie. Although the landscape was as flat and endless as before, it felt so different traveling it with Mom and Calvin. Instead of focusing on how much I wanted to see them, I was able to just enjoy their company. I felt complete somehow. We planned to spend the night at an old house my mother remembered. Calvin didn’t leave my side, and I noticed Liam glancing over at us a few times. Calvin seemed ambivalent about Liam’s revelation.

I peeked up at Calvin tentatively. “You’re not mad, are you?”

“
Why would I be angry?” He squeezed my hand.

“
About the kiss.”

“
Which kiss? It seems they keep adding up.”

“
But you said you understood about the kiss with James; I already told you it wasn’t my fault.”

“
But the one with Liam was?” Calvin’s face relaxed, and I realized he was joking. “It is all right, Charlotte. I understand you were still a child. Of course, I would have preferred to be your first kiss, but we cannot change that now.”

“
Thanks for understanding.”

“
We are lucky that Liam is now one of your Guardians. We have so few with us.” Although he didn’t say it, I knew he was thinking of William. I also noticed him giving Liam a sidelong glance as he said it. I had a feeling my friendship with Liam bothered him more than he admitted.

“
Yeah, very lucky.” I figured telling Calvin I was ecstatic might be pushing it too far.

Calvin put his arm around my shoulders, holding my pack in his other hand. We walked in silence for a while, listening to the chatter of the others in the group. I gazed at the trees, amazed by the gorgeous hues of the foliage. Leaves in bright reds, purples and blues colored the landscape.

“
So how far away is this house?” I called to my mother, who walked holding onto Monty’s arm.

“
Not too much further.” Mom smiled and waited for me to catch up. It was surreal walking next to her. I reached out to touch her, needing to prove to myself that she was real.

“
I am really here, sweetheart.”

I was glad my mother knew me so well, but then I realized that she might be able to read my feelings like Ruth could. “Mom, can you read my thoughts?”

“
Not your exact thoughts, but your feelings. You can read mine, too.”

“
How?” I asked excitedly. I hadn’t even contemplated that I could do it, too.

“
I will teach you how, as well as how to block me.” She gave me a knowing smile and nodded toward Calvin. I could feel my cheeks burning. My mom had been gone since I was in middle school, so we had avoided a lot of the awkward talks about boys. I had a feeling we would be making up for it soon.

“
So Calvin, you are from Rawlins?” Mom asked.

“
Yes. My family has always lived there.” Calvin sounded nervous.

“
So this must have all been a real change for you.”