Page 54 of Coerced

“The Council of Wardens learned the lesson after the first sacking of Rome,” Clem explained. “The outpost there was overrun and any neph who couldn’t fight, flee, hide, or shift ended up dead. By 500 AD, the wardens had retro-fitted all the Sanctuaries with portals that connected to outposts.”

“Like each Sanctuary was the hub of a wheel and all the outposts in that zone were the spokes.” Travis nodded. “Makes sense.”

“Enough of a history lesson.” I was getting impatient. I turned to Rihanna. “My warden, Hank Bishop, was supposed to leave a package for me with the medical chief. Where can we find—”

“You’re talking to her.” Rihanna’s dark face split open in a big grin that showed lots of strong, white teeth.

“Then you have it?” My brow came down. All this talking was taking time away from getting Jax back on his feet.

“Yes.” She reached into the pocket of her white lab coat and took out a little square box. “What is it?”

I took it from her, opened it, and dumped Ms. Chapman’s little tin into my palm.

“The Balm of Gilead.” I held it out to her and ignored the shocked faces around me. “Now go fix my friend.”

14. He’s Old For a Reason

Kerry

“A storage unit, Clem?”

“Hey, she’s safe and warm and dry. No plants can grow on her and the weather can’t corrode her.”

“We need Kyo Yumi,” Tara declared.

“Why?” I asked.

“He’s a watcher,” John explained. “He can read the past from an object and has some telepathic abilities.”

I glanced at Gemma to make sure I knewtelepathicand she tapped her forehead with her index finger.

“He can read minds?” My eyebrows flew up.

“He can hear your thoughts if he touches you.” Tara nodded. “And he can convey those thoughts from one person to another.”

“I thought we weren’t going to communicate with anyone at the Sanctuary.” Gemma bit her lip. “Because there might be a traitor.”

“Oh, come on!” Travis rolled his eyes. “It can’t be Kyo. He’s twelve!”

“John?” I turned to him. “Could you go get him for us?”

“I told you, he’s too young,” Clem growled. “And just because he’s young doesn’t mean he might not be working with the wrong people. Kids can be fooled and tricked even easier than adults.”

“We’re going to have to risk it,” I said. “John, you have the ability to bind him to silence, right?”

“Yeah.”

“His warden’s not going to like it,” Clem muttered.

“It’s only for a few minutes, and we’re in a safe place.” I lifted one shoulder. “All of us are here, and John could get him out in a heartbeat if something happened. I don’t see the risk. And we can fetch his warden, too, if you want.”

“Oh, no!” Clem glared at me. “I won’t put up with Helene Chapman for any length of time, however short. She can hold her poisoned tongue until we get back and cut me down with it then.”

I shrugged and told John to go.

While we waited, I called Gigi to check in. We’d left her with Jax at a hotel, although I didn’t really like to separate the group. But he needed to rest and she needed to be with him.

“He’s fine,” she giggled. “We’re both fine.”

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