Awakening: A Timeless Series Novel, Book Four Read Free

could do was leave them, for their own safety.
    “Stop her!” Brogan yelled.
    Colt caught me by the arm and pressed me into his chest, holding me close. My fingers knotted into his shirt. His hand began stroking my back as my tears continued to fall. It was bad enough being a failure to everyone, but I couldn’t bear the complete and utter despair Dex and Lilly had shown me. It hurt too deeply.
    “Give Dex time, Cheyenne,” Colt said. “ They both need time to understand it.”
    “Even you don’t understand it, Colt!” I snapped and shoved him back. “You think it was a mistake. You just said so.”
    He didn’t reply, but instead pressed me close again, resting his chin on my head.
    “Leave me here. Let Marcus find me,” I whispered in defeat. “It’ll be safer for everyone...”
    “No!” Colt’s hold grew tight. “ I just got you back. I’m not letting go again. We’ll find a way around this, I promise.”
    The only way I saw around this resulted in death, their deaths.
    “ We need to leave,” Daniel reminded us.
    Colt released me, but instead of leading me to Koda, he helped me mount Sam.
    “ She rides with Koda, Colt,” Brogan said stalking closer.
    Colt ignored him and mounted behind me.
    “ We’re not being followed, and she’s not going anywhere. She’s riding with me,” Colt said.
    Brogan’s jaw firmed , and his brown eyes darkened. “We’re not being followed because Marcus already has what he wants—her powers! He’ll come for her, mark my words. He’ll want to remove the weak link.”
    “Let it go, Brogan,” Koda said, moving between us.
    Brogan was right. I was the weak link…
    Maes’s jade-rimmed eyes narrowed for a moment, and then he shifted into his Tresez form before leading us off into the forest again. Layla rode beside Brogan and touched his arm. He softened, but not before he gave me a sidelong glance. I was back to being lower than pond scum with him.
    I’d worked hard, gained ground with him in Ireland, but everything had changed. Everything had been wiped away when I married Marcus, because he didn’t understand, and chances were he wouldn’t understand until it was too late.
    Colt kept me close as we rode, his chin leaning against my head. His familiar woodsy scent drifted around me, and I couldn’t help but inhale. Regardless of all that had transpired, I’d missed him, but I was married now and everyone around me was in danger…especially Colt and Callon. They would be Marcus’s first targets, unless I kept my distance. But Marcus wasn’t here right now, and Callon was gone. He’d deserted me, us.
    I’d thought he’d merely gone for a walk, to cool off, but he still hadn’t returned to our group. Even if he did, it wouldn’t change a thing. I knew he’d refuse to make eye contact with me. He was angry, hurt, and powerless, all because of me. I’d handed over not only his powers, but the entire Consilador clan’s powers. Even though it hadn’t been intentional, the fact remained. I’d left them unprotected, unable to defend themselves—trapped, just like me.
    But surely I could change their fate, unlike mine, and get their powers back…I just had to figure out how , and Callon was my best shot at figuring out the how.
    Afternoon transitioned to evening , and the forest grew darker. We didn’t stop, and neither had the pain in my skull. I could feel myself growing weaker. I glanced around, searching for Callon.“Will he come back, Colt?” I asked.
    “ I don’t know,” he replied, “and I can’t ask him, either.”
    I pressed my eyes closed for a moment. He’d lost his telepathy because of me.
    “ I’m sorry,” I murmured.
    “It’s going to take time, sweetheart, time for everyone to come to grips with this new situation.”
    Situation, he said, but I knew it was their death sentence.
    He sighed and kissed my head.
    “ You’re exhausted. I know how long it took you to recover from the failed bonding with Callon. I also know the