Dentelle Read Free

for the average person, but I’d had
six months to become comfortable with my linked abilities. One minute we were
sliding dangerously close to the edge of the cliff, and the next we were
leaping over giant boulders or tearing through boggy wetlands. After running
through a flat-opened rock area, we suddenly merged into a spruce-fir forest.
The darkness caught me off guard, and a couple tree branches brushed roughly
against my cheek as I flew by. I must have inadvertently spoken telepathically
to Ash, because even though he was in front of me and couldn’t have seen me, he
was suddenly in my mind.
    “What? Did
a little branchy-poo hurt Miss Almighty Dentelle?”
    “Of course
not,” I replied testily.
    “ Need a
kiss to make it better?” He laughed.
    “Very
funny,” I responded. Coming up fast behind him, I leaped and then used his
shoulders like a springboard. Flying high, I landed a good twenty feet in front
of him, right behind Laci, Madison, Hannah, and Sienna. As we dodged in between
trees, I glanced back at him. His shoulder-length hair flowed behind him, and I
thought maybe he was shaking his head. I smiled. While I definitely wasn’t in
love with him, I did love him. He’d become one of my best friends, and
secretly, I think we both enjoyed the mental sparring. I guess if I couldn’t be
linked with Jason, Ash would be my next choice. “Need some tips on how to keep up with the ladies?” I teased.
    “You
better stop checkin’ me out and watch where you’re going, or a bigger, more
brutal branch is gonna knock you right onto your cute little…” The last of
his words were interrupted by sudden loud booms, which reverberated throughout
the forest. Even the ground began shaking under our feet, bringing our small
group to an abrupt halt. Quickly, we gathered around Laci.
    In a quiet voice, she said, “Okay. This is it.
Max says they are more than ready for some help. There are at least seven
Ray-pacs blocking the path between us and Izzy.”
    Sienna jumped in. “Yes, Michael just told me he
overheard a Ray-pac conversation as he was teleporting in between trees. They
plan on keeping us busy while giving the other three guys’ time to escape with
Izzy. As we speak, those three guys are moving Izzy down the other side of the
mountain.”
    Laci tucked a strand of unruly curls behind her
ear and said, “Okay, good information. Just a sec.” She was silent for a moment,
relaying that information to Max. A moment later she nodded her head and said,
“Max wants Madison, Ash, and Sienna to join them. He doesn’t realize you’re
with us, Hannah. You were supposed to stay down below.”
    “Don’t worry about me,” Hannah interjected.
    “Your call,” Laci said with a shrug. “Lexi, you
and I will go after Izzy. Everyone got it?”
    “You know it,” Ash said impatiently. Nudging me
in the side, he spoke only to me, “Good
plan. We don’t want the Ray-pacs figuring out you’re an Amethyst, and they
easily could. This way no one has to worry about you.” Glancing at the
group, he spoke aloud, “Laci, you and Lexi shouldn’t have any trouble
clobbering three unlinked idiots and rescuing Izzy. Just keep your eye on this
one.” He smacked me lightly on the side of the head.
    “I can handle myself,” I said with a sigh,
disappointed I’d miss out on the big action. Then again, my Flair was
defensive, so I wasn’t much help in a real fight. And rescuing Izzy was our top priority. “But you guys be careful.”
    “Let’s go already,” Madison said, rubbing her
hands together. “I’m so in the mood to thrash some Ray-pac scum.”
    “My thoughts exactly,” Ash said with the same
amount of eagerness.
    Madison shook her head and blew air between her
lips. Under her breath, she said to me, “And Jason says no unnecessary risks.”
I nodded. “And no,” she whispered furiously, “I will not be passing on any more
messages, so don’t bother.”
    We had a hate-hate relationship for sure.