Salvaged Soul (The Ignited Series Book 3) (30 page)
Read Salvaged Soul (The Ignited Series Book 3) Online
Authors: Desni Dantone
“What then?”
“Well, I guess it’s kind of related,” he amended. “I just . . . is everything okay . . . with us? After everything that has happened?”
I took his hand in mine. “I’m okay with us. If you are.”
“I’m more than okay,” he replied with a smile. “What we’re about to do . . . we’re going to do it together, every step of the way. And when this all over . . .”
He trailed off without finishing his thought, but he didn’t need to say the words. I knew what he was thinking.
“I can’t wait,” I said as I wrapped my arms around his neck.
I couldn’t wait to do simple for the rest of my life. With Nathan.
Epilogue
Callie’s eyes fluttered as I pressed my lips to her forehead, but they didn’t open. I didn’t know if she could hear me or not, but I spoke to her as if she could.
“I’m going to fix this,” I promised her. “I’m going to get you out of this mess, and once I do, I’ll come back for you. We’ll take a nice long trip to the mall . . . get some highlights in that hair of yours.”
I lifted my head to look pleadingly at Gran, who sat in the chair beside the bed. “Take good care of her. Please.” My voice cracked, and I swallowed to contain the emotion that threatened to pour out of me.
I had expected it to be difficult to leave her, but damn. I had been trying for five minutes to leave, and hadn’t made it any closer to the door. I kept thinking that this could be the last time I saw Callie alive, and the possible finality of this visit terrified me.
Gran’s hand covered mine. “I’ll take care of Callie. You just take care of each other.” Her eyes shifted to the door, where Nathan and Alec waited, having already said their goodbyes.
I nodded decidedly, and rounded the bed to hug Gran one last time. I swatted a tear from my eye as I turned away from her, and Nathan slipped a comforting arm around my shoulders as we left.
We had nothing but the clothes we were wearing, and a few weapons stuffed into the duffel bag slung over Nathan’s shoulder. We would have to start over. Jared had already moved some money into an account in Nathan’s name to help us. Our first stop when we got to the mainland would be to buy some clean clothes, and more weapons.
Most of the Kala had already left for the Australian base, and the few who remained were busy with the recovery efforts. Eerie silence greeted us in the village center, and followed us as we made our way to the beach, and the boat that waited for us.
Sitting on the bench before the trail was a familiar face. I hadn’t seen Bruce since the night of the attack, and he looked much better than I remembered. The only reminder of the injuries he had suffered was the sling around his arm.
“I hope you weren’t planning to leave without me,” he said to Alec as he came to a stand.
I shot Nathan a puzzled look. Jared had assured us that we were free to go. After the discovery of several traitors in their midst, what was left of Kala leadership was in shambles. Surely they had bigger things to worry about than ensuring Alec had his guard follow him on our vigilante mission.
“You’re going to need some muscle to wrangle up those demigods,” Bruce added. “And I got that, once this sling is gone, of course.”
I bit my lip to stifle the smile on my face as I looked between Nathan and Alec. Nathan was the first to wipe the astonishment off his face.
“We sure could use the help,” he said to Bruce.
Alec slapped Bruce on the back to welcome him into our group as we resumed our walk to the dock. As it, and our waiting boat, came into view, I spotted two more people who appeared to be waiting for us.
I recognized Jared first, and started to smile until I realized who the second person was.
Lillian.
Nathan greeted Jared with a back pat-hug combination. “I thought you already left for the Australian base.”
Jared scratched his chin. “I was going to. Then I thought, what the hell? Dangerous missions are our thing, and I couldn’t let you go on this one without me.”
Nathan nodded decidedly, and I was relieved that our team was growing, and getting stronger. Then I caught a glimpse of Lillian over Jared’s shoulder, and I fidgeted nervously as I wondered what purpose she had for being here.
I really hoped she didn’t plan to cause a scene over Nathan. I bit my lip as she stepped forward . . . toward me.
“I want to help, too,” she said to me.
I glanced at Nathan, waiting for him to tell her no. He met my eyes with a shrug that said,
it couldn’t hurt
.
“My memory is starting to come back.
Slowly
,” she emphasized, “but maybe I’ll remember something valuable. And . . .”
She looked at Nathan this time, and I saw it. There was no doubt that she loved him.
“Maybe I can help you with your spells, and teach you how to control things better,” she added.
I folded my arms as I surveyed her cautiously. Though I suspected she may have other reasons for wanting to come along—specifically, the fact that she was still in love with Nathan—I was intrigued by her offer to help me with my control.
Since the night of the attack, I’d had a few . . . episodes. My body flirted with invisibility, objects moved, glass shattered, my hands tingled without conscious thought of producing fire. Without Micah’s guidance, I found that I was struggling.
And Lillian had been an Incantator as a Skotadi. If her memory, and abilities, came back perhaps she could be of assistance. Not only to me, but to our cause.
“Yeah, okay,” I muttered with a nod. I looked up and caught Alec’s smirk. I narrowed my eyes and mouthed,
shut up
.
“Okay,” Nathan declared. “It’s the six of us then.”
Within the span of five minutes, our team had doubled. Though my guard would be up with Lillian around, I was more optimistic. Six was much better than three.
“Next stop . . . a clothing store,” Alec announced as we boarded the boat.
As Jared took a seat at the controls, I moved to the back of the boat, away from the others, to sit. If anything, to collect myself and my thoughts.
Though I was scared to find out what would happen next, I was eager to get my life back. I was done with being the victim, and letting things happen to me. Now, I was prepared to make things happen . . .
for me
.
Nathan took a seat beside me as Jared steered the boat away from the dock, and I offered him a smile to let him know I was okay. Because I knew he worried about me.
His arm wrapped around my shoulders, and I turned to face the horizon, not with trepidation this time, but with hope, because I knew that somewhere out there awaited the key to my freedom.
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