Page 78 of Visions & Shadows

“Is she rested now?” Brenna snaps, the bite back in her tone.

“Yeah, Raighne, she sure looks concerned.”

“Enough, Brenna, she’s our sister,” Roark’s voice booms over us. “How can you vow to protect her when you can’t even show her any support?”

I watch as her expression changes to respectful, then she murmurs, “I apologize.”

Oh wow. At least someone can control her.

“Do you feel better, Alchera? We don’t want to strain you too much so soon after your vision,” Roark says.

Ugh, I really don’t want to talk about the visions.

Letting out a slow breath, I nod. “I feel better. Thanks for asking.”

Raighne surprises me by speaking on my behalf. “Alchera won’t be able to talk about the vision. I felt her pain, and I can understand why.”

Brenna steps up to us, her eyes blazing. “It’s not for you to decide what she does and doesn’t share, guardian. The chosen ones–”

“Quiet, Brenna,” Raighne’s voice is downright icy. “I’m Alchera’s guardian, and it’s formeto decide what’s best forher. She’s my charge, and I get the final say regarding her life. She won’t talk about it, and don’t forget the role you play in all of this. You’re only here to assist her.”

I’m practically gaping at Raighne by the time he’s done laying into Brenna.

I know he’s my guardian, but not about the part that he gets the final say in my life.

What does that mean?

His eyes snap to me.“It means nothing in your life happens without my approval.”

“Like hell!”

“Not now, Alchera,”he snaps.“We’ll talk about this later.”

Anger bubbles in my chest, and I decide to walk away before I say something I’ll regret.

Heading to where Storm is standing, I take deep breaths to cool my temper.

When Storm glances in my direction, a smile tugs at his mouth. “You didn’t look well earlier? Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” I mutter. Stopping near him, I cross my arms over my chest. “I’ll get over it.”

Just like I’ve had to get over everything else.

Storm glances around us, and his eyes stop on Luna. When he stares for a moment too long, my eyebrow lifts, but I don’t say anything.

“We’re not stopping here,” he mentions. “We’ll camp near the waterfall.”

“Oh, I’ve just been there. It’s pretty.”

He lets out a chuckle. “It’s where we’ll bathe.”

Surprised, I gasp, “Like, all of us?”

When he nods, I start shaking my head. “I’m not bathing next to you.”

A burst of laughter explodes from him. “Stop stressing. We’ll take turns.”

I give him a playful slap on the shoulder. “Now is not the time to joke with me.”

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