Page 123 of Wilds of Wonder
Driscoll clutched his head.
Aron’s jaw locked when he saw Bellamy had left, and Maverickimmediately locked eyes with me, then looked at his sister. Annalee lay on the ground, unmoving. Maverick scrambled to her side.
“Annalee.” He shook her gently.
“I’m sure she’s just still sleeping.” I crawled to them while Aron helped Driscoll to a stand.
“Bellamy came to me in my dream,” Aron said. “She’s gone.”
There was a sadness I’d never heard in Aron’s voice.
“I know she was your friend.” I looked up from Annalee’s still form, “And I’m sorry she used you like that, manipulated you to bring that bolt to her.”
Aron’s impassive face betrayed nothing. “She did a lot of good. Not just for me, but for everyone. If I were to compare her actions, the good would far outweigh the bad.”
Ever the logical one.
Annalee groaned, and Maverick sucked in a sharp breath. “Hey,” he said as she blinked her eyes open. “Are you okay?”
“Why are you hovering over me?” She sat up and gave him a light shove.
He clapped a hand on her shoulder and hoisted her up. “Because I’m your older brother. That’s what older brothers do.”
“I’m fine.” She rubbed her eyes. “I’m guessing Bellamy is gone?”
All of us came together in a circle, and I nodded.
“There’s something you all should know,” I said. “Bellamy visited me as well. She’s the one who infiltrated Annalee’s dreams, brought her here. When she saw her future, it was Annalee whom she saw helping her escape from the Wilds. She found Annalee and infiltrated her dreams to make her obsess over this place until she’d have no choice but to come.”
“I have a confession to make too.” Annalee bit her lip.
Maverick’s gaze swung to her, and he planted his hands on his hips. “What did you do?”
Annalee winced. “I knew she wanted to escape without you. She told me. She didn’t force me or kidnap me. She was upfront about her plans, and I agreed.”
Driscoll sucked in a sharp breath while Aron stayed silent, patient, waiting for an explanation.
Maverick closed his eyes, his fists balling tight, and I lay a hand on his arm, hopefully a reminder to not lose his temper.
“Why would you do that?” he asked through clenched teeth.
“Because I don’t want to leave here, and you wouldn’t listen. You kept making plans for me. I like the Wilds.”
“Because you were manipulated into it,” Maverick shot back. “You heard Emory. It was Bellamy who did all of this.” He gestured to her. “I don’t know how she did it, how she could summon that kind of power to infiltrate your dreams from so far away, butshe did.”
That would be another conversation we’d have to have at a later time.
“I don’t think that’s it,” I said, and Maverick’s sharp gaze landed on me. “Your sister knows this place better than anyone. Yes, Bellamy sent her those visions, but she didn’t teach Annalee how to make blood beetles sing.”
“Technically, they weren’t singing,” Driscoll said.
I shot him a pointed look. “Bellamy didn’t teach her how to host tea parties for the Mad Hatter or talk to caterpillars. Annalee did that all on her own. She has a special gift, and I don’t think we should discount that.”
Maverick’s gaze softened, and he looked up at the twilight sky. “Okay, then.”
Annalee mouthed “thank you,” and I smiled in return.
“So what do we do?” Driscoll spread his arms wide. “This was our only way out.”
