Enduring Light Read Free Page A

worry.”
     
    Mom seemed to relax a little. “True enough. All right, you two. Don’t leave without saying goodbye. I need to check on supplies.”
     
    Kevin waved. “See you in a few.”
     
    I turned to Kevin. “I heard Talen’s going with you.”
     
    “Talen? Why’s he coming with us?”
     
    “He’s an arctic wolf. Don’t you think he might come in handy up in Alaska?”
     
    Kevin pulled an apple out of his pocket and took a bite. “I guess. I just don’t know him well.”
     
    “Aren’t I supposed to be the anti-social one?” I tried not to drool, but I hadn’t had a normal fruit like an apple in a while. I had no clue where he’d found them, but Kevin usually managed the impossible.
     
    He smiled, pulling a second apple from his other pocket. He tossed it to me. “I liked it when you were. Mom might not care about you alone with three guys, but I do. I don’t care that Calvin’s your Gerard. You’re still too young.”
     
    I took a bite of the crisp apple. “I’m seventeen.”
     
    “Way too young.”
     
    “He’s a good guy.”
     
    He tossed his apple core into a bin. “Maybe. I know I should trust him, but I don’t.”
     
    “Well, Liam will be with us too, and I know you trust him.”
     
    “Do I trust him? Yes. Do I trust him with you? The jury’s still out.”
     
    I took another bite and wiped some juice that ran down my chin. “Well, you know Henry’s not into me. He’s been pining over Rachel this whole time.”
     
    “I’ll agree with you there. When in doubt, stick with Henry.”
     
    I laughed. “Please never change.”
     
    “The same goes for you. You’re going to be okay. All jokes aside, I’m glad you’ll have three Guardians with you.”
     
    “Me too.” Although I tried to act calm, I had learned the hard way about the dangers in Energo. I wouldn’t want to travel alone.
     
    Monty joined us. “Kevin, I’m about ready to go.” He’d shaved, and he finally looked like my uncle again. I knew facial hair was the thing in Energo, but Monty would always look funny to me with a beard. The same could be said for Kevin and Liam—but they’d shaved the second they had the chance. Monty usually waited until it was a full beard.
     
    He must have caught me staring. “Do I have anything on my face?”
     
    “No… but that’s kind of the point. You’re not fuzzy anymore.”
     
    “I figured if I was going back to civilization, I might as well look the part.”
     
    I checked out his black cotton outfit. “You think you look the part?”
     
    “Very funny.   Have you looked at yourself lately?”
     
    My long red dress was comfortable but not even remotely practical. I missed jeans. “Don’t rub it in.”
     
    “You look beautiful in that dress.” Calvin came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. He was so comfortable with public displays like that, but I still felt strange—especially with Liam around.
     
    I gave in and leaned back against Calvin. “Of course you’d say that.”
     
    He didn’t seem to mind the way Kevin rolled his eyes before walking away.
     
    “I have a surprise for you.” Calvin lightly kissed my neck, keeping his lips there for a moment longer than I expected. The contact made me shiver with a mix of nerves and anticipation.   
     
      I turned to look at him. “Really?”
     
    He held out a package wrapped in parchment.
     
    I ripped it open to find a pair of black pants and a shirt similar to what Samantha wore. “Thanks so much!”
     
    “Blake’s men are going to recognize us no matter what you are wearing. You might as well be comfortable. But you do not have me to thank.”
     
    “I don’t?”
     
    “Nope. Samantha insisted on it.”
     
    I spotted Samantha’s blond hair a little ways off and excused myself to go talk to her. I stopped a few beds down from where she stood. “Hey.”
     
    She looked up from packing some supplies. “Oh. Hi, Charlotte.”
     
    I held out the new clothes.