Trey smiles and kisses the top of my head. “Yes. Everything I need is right here.”
Every now and then we pass through rocky tunnels that cut through the hills. They’re shockingly unkempt by the standards of most Rafe construction. Water seeps down stone walls by green crawling vines. Loose rock makes the ride treacherous.
“These tunnels are rarely used anymore,” Trey explains, echoing my thoughts. “Once air travel became the preferred mode of transport, there was little need to maintain them. The local population of a few spix ranchers and trainers use them to work the spixes.”
As we exit a tunnel, the sun is rising over the valley. We have a clear view of a winding path to a valley below. Low fieldstone walls hem in paddocks and connect several barns and outbuildings. In the corner of the clearing, a large estate spreads out among an orchard of fruit trees and serenely planned-out gardens. I take off my night-vision glasses, staring in wonder at the incredible vista.
“Whose place is this?” I ask Trey.
“Technically it’s mine, but I own it through a charitable foundation that’s not overtly attached to my name. It serves as a camp for developmentally challenged youths. The campers are all gone now. When I knew war was imminent, after my conversation in the lodge with Kyon, I had the place closed and the children sent home.”
“Why do you keep it a secret?”
“Because I sometimes like to hide away from the world here. If I were to attach my family name to it, then every wealthy Rafian with too much time on his hands would want to come and use it for a hunting lodge because of its proximity to the restricted area. That’s not what it’s for, and I don’t have time for it.”
Trey directs Honey Badger with more urgency now. There are a few moments when I fear I’m about to be bounced off the spix. Trey doesn’t seem at all concerned by the precarious fall over the edge of the cliff should the spix misstep. His confidence speeds us through the descent.
When we reach the valley floor, I’m overwhelmed with relief. I sag against him in complete fatigue. But as we trot down the tree-lined dirt lane, I have to admire the beauty of the place. It’s a secluded valley, hidden by mountains and cut off from the constant buzz of technology that I’ve grown accustomed to seeing in Rafe.
After traversing a rustic-covered wooden bridge, two riders approach us at an easy gait on the other side. I recognize Trey’s brother, Victus, immediately. They’re identical, with the same dark hair and violet eyes, except Victus is not as broad-shouldered as his brother, and he lacks thick, military tattoos on his throat, chest, and abdomen. Next to Victus is a willowy Etharian woman dressed like him in an outfit made explicitly for riding. Her mount is a dappled gray spix with a white mane knotted in intricate braids, just like Victus’s.
“Trey, who is that with Victus?” I ask, even though I already know the answer. I’ve seen her face in the video picture in her room.
“That,” he says with a soft sigh, “would be Charisma.”
CHAPTER 14
CANDYLAND BOOGEYMAN
Charisma is an incredible rider; her back is ramrod-straight, and the way in which she sits her spix makes me believe that she may well have been born upon its back. I try to keep my emotions reined in when Trey halts our spix in front of the pair.
To the Cavars behind us, Trey says, “You can go up to the main house over there. They’ll provide food and show you to where you can get some rest. We’ll go over your assignments after you sleep.” The Cavars move around us, continuing on to the large estate.
Trey’s hand slips from my waist to my thigh. He squeezes it in an intimate caress before he dismounts from our spix. Victus and Charisma dismount as well. Walking the short distance to them, Trey extends his arms and they both walk into them, group hugging like only a family in my dreams would do. I immediately feel like a lurker. My posture becomes even more stooped and all I want to do is slide to the ground and lie there for hours; I’m so tired. I can’t let them see how alone I feel in this moment, so I try really hard to adopt a blank expression.
“Pasdon and Mamon are here?” Trey asks them while they continue to hug. Victus pulls away from Trey first, leaving Charisma to shift in Trey’s arms for a solo hug.
“They’re at the main house,” Victus affirms. “Mamon will be relieved to see you—you know how she worries.”
“She makes a career of it at times,” Trey replies, while his hand rubs the girl’s back tenderly.