Reaching Retribution(52)

Ryanne takes a step back and bites her bottom lip. This just makes me want to lean forward and kiss those very inviting lips again. She looks up at me once more. “I don’t know for sure. I was leaning against Liam, trying to sleep and I started thinking about you. The next thing I know, I’m standing behind that bench, looking at you. What were you doing?”

“I was sitting in another hotel room listening to Tom and Colin rattle off strategies. I got really tired, so I sat back and rested against the headboard and closed my eyes. The next thing I know, I hear your voice behind me.”

“Maybe you have a new power,” she suggests.

“Or maybe you have another power,” I tell her. It’s more likely that she’s the one with the new power than me.

“Maybe it’s a soulmate thing.”

“Maybe.”

“Wait, rattling off strategies about what?” she asks. I know that she won’t like hearing about this. I reach forward and tuck a loose curl behind her ears. Despite this being a dream…it’s surprisingly realistic. I can feel the air moving around us. The slight breeze is blowing Ryanne’s hair and causing mine to fall into my eyes. The crickets and other insects are buzzing around as they fly amongst the greenery. The sound of water cascading down into a small pool emanates from the fountain behind me.

“About our rescue mission.” Ryanne opens her mouth to argue, but I cover her mouth with my hand. “We know what we’re doing, Ry.” I slowly draw my hand away and wait for her response.

“It’s a suicide mission, Colton. Please don’t do this,” she pleads with me. I sit down on the bench and pull her down beside me. She’s always been so concerned about our well-being. Why is it so surprising that someone could be concerned about hers?

“We have plenty of mages in our group willing to help out.”

“Twenty mages is nowhere near enough. Don’t come for me. If they start hurting me, I’ll find a way to leave. I’ve been looking, but it looks like the only way to leave the compound is through the back door. It’s too risky, Colton.”

“Ryanne we have more than twenty mages coming,” I tell her. She arches her neck up and looks at me confused. I pull her closer. “We have over 150 mages willing to help rescue you.”

Her mouth falls open and her eyes widen. I almost laugh at the obvious look of shock on her face. “Are you serious?”

“I wouldn’t lie about that.”

“How did you get that many?” she inquires. “I don’t know anywhere near that many mages.”

“I know some people who know some people who know some people. It doesn’t matter how it happened, just that it did. We’re coming to rescue you and Liam whether you like it or not.”

“It scares me. I don’t want anything to happen to you guys. At least if something happens to me, you all will be fine. If anything does happen, it’d be my own fault, because I don’t know when to shut my mouth and mind my own business.”

“Well, it scares me to leave you there. I know you have Liam to protect you, but I still worry, because you don’t know when to shut your mouth and mind your own business.” She laughs when I repeat her. My stomach tightens at the sound of her laugh. I’ve missed that.

“Just promise me that you’ll be careful.” She turns and faces me completely. “If you get backed into a corner, retreat and regroup, because if I find out that you got killed fighting a Gadramick, I won’t be a happy camper. I still don’t think this is a good idea. Don’t forget about our plans,” she whispers to me. I know that she’s referring to what we talked about when we sat out here the other night. How she thinks I could forget is beyond me.

I kiss her forehead. “I promise to be careful.”

“Thank you,” she says as she leans against my chest and closes her eyes. I don’t know how it’s possible, but she falls asleep in a dream. I sit back and get comfortable. I might as well try and get some sleep too.



“Hey, Colton, wake up.” The bed beside me starts moving. I open my eyes and look straight into the eyes of two blond girls.

“What do you guys want?” I mumble as I sit up. Emma and Natalie sit down on the bed Indian style and face me.

“Liam contacted me,” Natalie says with a smile.

“Ryanne contacted me too,” I tell her. Both of their smiles fall with that statement.

“What? How is that possible?” Emma asks. Everyone takes a step closer to me. I rub my eyes and sit up further.

“I don’t know, but I just saw her.”

“Liam doesn’t think it’s a good idea for us to come,” Natalie says.