Ending ELE (ELE Series) Read Free Page A

lurches. How many times will my loved ones be put in danger because of me? Why do I keep putting them in this situation?
    “ You are not the one putting them in danger. The ones who are against us are to blame. Don’t confuse the two, Willow. You have done nothing to deserve any of this,” Tony says inside my mind.
    I finish tying Sebastian ’s shoes and look up to catch Tony staring at me from across the room. I merely nod, not convinced that everything he’s saying is true. The danger has come to us because of me.
    “ No, it’s because of them,” Tony demands. His face is full of emotion.
    “ You don’t always have to listen to my thoughts.” I don’t realize I’m glaring at him until his expression drops. Guilt rushes in and over me. “I’m sorry Tony. I... I hate this. All of this!” I gesture around the room . “Running, we are always running.”
    He crosses the room swiftly, using his unearthly speed. I stand up when he reaches me.
    “ It won’t always be like this. I promise. We will find a way in this crazy world. I promise you,” Tony tells me in a whispered voice. He tenderly tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
    My eyes well up with tears and the emotion is thick in my voice when I say, “I hope so.”
    His hand rests on my cheek and for a moment, it’s just Tony and me in this room. He leans in to kiss me.
    “ Ewwww! That gross!” Sebastian calls out before our lips meet.
    We both let out an embarrassed laugh and look down at my little brother. His face is all scrunched up, like he smelled something horribly stinky.
    Tony ruffles Sabby ’s hair. “You won’t always think that way, sport.”
    “ Yes I will!” Sabby throws his hands on his hips and stands up tall, prompting another round of laughs from us.
    “ Let’s move,” my dad calls out from behind us. His voice holds a serious tone, reminding us of the severity of the situation. “Now!” With that call to action, the room is a blur of movement again. We grab our things and step out into the blustery cold together.
    “ The snow is picking up,” Marya says. Alec instinctively drapes his arm around her.
    When we ’re almost to the lake, I look back at the cabin. The snow is falling in thick sheets now. I can barely see the light from the fireplace at this distance.
    Tony looks back at the cabin too. “They’re here,” he whispers.
    Our whole group stops , crouching in the snow and we try to stare through the blizzard-like conditions. A black silhouette crosses in front of the lit-up window. We hold our breath as two more silhouettes walk to the front of the cabin. I can see the outline of the assault rifle hanging from one of their backs. We watch one of them kick open the front door. Two more large figures come up behind the group of three. Armed, they enter the cabin.
    We should probably be putting some distance between the cabin and us, but something has us glued to this spot. We watch for several minutes as they search the cabin in silence. After a few minutes, a man steps back out into the cold. I can barely make out his frame but something about him is familiar. “Search the forest!” he yells to the others.
    It was loud enough for us to hear his order from here. Alec and I turn to each other in the next instant. Recognition of that voice is clear in both of our expressions. This was no stranger hunting us. That was Alec ’s dad.

CHAPTER 3
     
    Without another word, we ’re on our feet and running. With Claire and me keeping everyone invisible, we make our way around the lake and through the forest. Tony stays behind, wiping away our tracks in the snow. My dad guides us in the direction of the second safe house. We don’t stop running until after a few hours have passed. We all take turns carrying Sebastian and doing our best to keep him warm. Needing to take a break, we stop behind a large grouping of evergreens. We listen intently for several minutes to verify that we weren’t followed. Everyone takes