Page 17 of The Hidden Falling
I mentally stroke Runa, sending calm to her to help gather myself and regain control. The last thing we need is for the pack to be in any more distress right now.
“Sorry,” I say to them, dipping my head down briefly. “We all need to settle. Katy, Oscar senses your unrest. Be calm for him,” I tell her gently, using a voice I wouldn’t have thought was possible for me right now. I stretch my neck from side to side before I continue, looking out over everyone. “Your safety, all of you, is my top priority. I will not let the Elites report any of you back to the Highers. I will not let them remove you, and I will not leave you unprotected here,” I vow. They relax slightly after hearing my words, sitting up a little straighter knowing I will do everything within my power to keep them safe.
“The good thing is, right now the Elites aren’t near us. They’re still in The Deadlands. Either as bora food or alive and lost. We can work with that. I will take a team with me to The Deadlands to handle the situation. All I need from those left behind is to be alert, to be brave and wait for me.” I pause, making sure they hear what I have to say next. “If it has been too long and I haven’t returned, I leave Alpha duties to Kade. He will do right by you.”
I know Kade has been unpredictable lately with his wolf, but he will look after the pack in a way I know everyone will be happy with, and he will keep them safe. They trust him. He is my Heir to Eridian, and even though he’s young, I’ve trained him for years to be a leader. I look over at Kade, but he keeps his eyes straight ahead, refusing to look at me. Despite his feelings, he sits there like an immovable force in front of the pack, strong and sure.
I smile to myself at the man he’s becoming. I need to accept that he’s not a kid anymore, and I can’t wrap him up in cotton leaves to keep him safe. He will face danger again throughout his life, but I can try and control what danger that is.
And I’m determined for the Elites to not be one of them.
Nine
Rhea
Thepackshufflesoutone by one after being dismissed, touching me briefly before they leave in a show of strength and support. Runa settles at their touch, happy they have calmed down and are trusting us to take care of the problem.
Josie comes up to me last with Danny, her eyes red around the edges from holding back tears of fear for me, for us all. This could be the last time we ever see each other. I grab her and pull her close, breathing her in as wildflowers fill my senses, her favorite scent. A soft cry escapes her, and I rub soothing circles on her back, shushing her gently. Danny puts his hand on her shoulder, squeezing tenderly and prying her away from me. We stare at each other, so many unspoken words passing between us. Not a single sound escapes us, but knowing exactly what we are saying.
Come back to us.
“Be safe,” Josie whispers, her voice trembling with the words. I nod, unable to speak over the lump in my throat, to tell her that I will be when we both know I can’t promise that.
Danny guides her away from the gathering, their steps slow as they walk. When they reach the edge of the trees, Josie looks back at me one more time, sadness flooding her eyes before she turns and disappears from sight. They will probably go back to their cabin and hold each other tight tonight, like they are the only ones in the world. A sharp pain goes through me at that thought. Would I ever have that? Would I ever have someone to hold me tight and look at me like I was their world? Would I ever let anyone? Would I even have the chance?
Colten sighs and throws himself onto a bench heavily, pulling me out of my depressing thoughts. “Well, how screwed are we?” he asks.
“Col,” Hudson snaps at him, glaring so hard at the younger male you would expect him to drop dead any second. Taylor and Sebastian come closer to where we are standing, checking around us for any listening ears.
Colten shrugs, looking down and picking at his pants. “What?” he replies, unbothered. “We’re fucked unless by some miracle they don’t find us here. If they have a task, they see it through. My father was exactly like that. He would become obsessed and be gone for weeks and weeks at a time until he completed what he set out to do. They are called the Elites for a reason. They are the best at what they do. With a reputation like theirs, most people usually stay out of their way. They may live in Vrohkaria, but they are a class of their own. Even the Highers are wary of them.”
This isn’t news based on what Edward has told me, or from what I have read in the texts on Vrohkaria’s history. The Elites have been around for hundreds of years, created by the first council of Highers after the King and Queen died. But hearing it come out so seriously from Colten sends a shiver down my spine. He knows firsthand what an Elite is like.
“I know their reputation, well some of it, but they bleed like anyone else. Elite or not, we have to protect the pack at all costs.” I look at each of my closest pack members, and they nod in agreement, knowing we have to do whatever it takes. Kade stays silent, still refusing to look at me.
“Sarah is still not in any fit state to move,” Josh interjects, steering the conversion away from the Elites and tilting his head in the direction of the healer’s cabin. “If the Elites do get into Eridian, she can’t be moved. She wouldn’t be able to handle it.” My eyebrows raise at him in surprise. How does he know what she could or couldn’t handle? He’s not seen her since the day she arrived many weeks ago.
I pinch my lip with my fingers, wondering what the best thing would be to do. If we had to move her, she would need to be sedated, it would be too risky otherwise. Although, being drugged and waking up in a different place again wouldn’t be good for her mental state. But it’s better than having to return with the Elites if it came down to that.
“I think it’s best if we leave her where she is for now,’’ I offer, and Josh’s shoulders relax. His chest rises with a deep breath before letting it out slowly.Interesting.I set my eyes back to Taylor as I ask, “How many trap stones do we have?”
Taylor tilts his head, his amber eyes focusing as he thinks. “Eight,” he finally says. “We also have a few slow ones.”
“Hmmm,” I contemplate, reaching down and pulling my knife from my boot and twirling it in my hand. I copy the moves that Sebastian is doing with his own blade since the pack members left. He notices me watching him after a few moments and his tawny eyes flash in amusement before executing more difficult movements. “Asshole,” I grumble when I can’t keep up with him. He chuckles, throwing me a wink, then flips the blade around and launches it in the poor, unsuspecting tree across from him.
“What are you thinking?” Hudson inquires, pulling my stare away from a smug faced Seb.
I put my knife back in my boot and place my hands on my hips before turning to Hudson. “I’m thinking that the best way to deal with the Elites if they are alive, which is highly likely, is using the creatures of The Deadlands against them. If we can lead a lot of the creatures to where they are without being seen, they will be overrun and left with only two options. Die or retreat.” I don’t want anyone to die, but if it’s between them or my pack, I’ll choose my pack every single time.
“I agree.” Taylor nods. “If it works, they won’t know anyone is living out here, and they will have to conclude that Sarah has also died.”
“I think it could work,” Colten chimes in, standing up and stretching while Hudson, Josh and Seb nod in agreement. Kade doesn’t respond.
“There is one problem though,” Taylor says, his eyes holding mine. “If they die, won’t more Elites or the Highers come looking for them?”
Well, shit. I didn’t think of that. I groan out loud. “So we have to send them back, and make them give up the search.” I nod, resigned, knowing this is going to be more difficult than just having them die. If we fail, we are more than likely not coming home. “Edward can’t help us either. He doesn’t know where the Elites are specifically, and he isn’t even supposed to know they were sent to The Deadlands. We’re on our own with this.”
I know if Edward could help us, he would. He has risked his life many times over the years in helping people come here, in helping us. If the Highers found out about what he was doing, he would be sentenced to death. He’s broken too many laws. Repeatedly.
