The Forbidden Trilogy(184)

"Get rid of him. He goes with the others."

Beleth moved forward, as if to object.

Nerve endings twitched as Steele fought to maintain control over Beleth. He didn't have the power to beat the larger man in direct combat, so he couldn't risk losing the small edge he had with his mental compulsion. How he hated feeling powerless.

Before he'd been modified with para-powers, Steele had hated his life as a nobody, worthy only of the bullies' attention. But science had gifted him with a new life and a new start. The program they'd been a part of had been pulled, but he and Beleth continued the work they'd started so long ago. Back then, Beleth didn't balk at what they had to do to enhance humanity, but Steele had seen a change come over his former partner. That meant he had to complete his preparations soon, before Beleth broke free of his control and altered the course of their undertaking.

Steele's power held, and Beleth stepped back, ready to do what he was told.

No matter, for even had Beleth broken free, Steele kept another ace in the hole, one which nobody knew about: his daughter. "What's the status on Drake?"

"He is free and will likely attempt to free the boy. I don't understand why you haven't sent guards for him. You know he's going to head straight to Sam, first chance he gets."

Drake. So like his mother. Strong, stubborn and willful. If only the Seeker had been blessed with more backbone, he might have survived.

Mr. Steele smiled. "And how do you know that's not exactly what I want?"





Chapter 89 – Lucy



As Lucy meditated, her mind buzzed with thoughts.

Finding a way out of the valley proved more difficult than she'd thought. They'd built a camp, and spent hours exploring the clearing, to no avail. They did, however, find some of the tastiest fruits ever, as well as savory vegetation that worked well in a stew. Mr. K had been instrumental in helping them find food sources that were safe.

Lucy's mind wandered, the scent of rainbow flowers, as she called them, stimulating a recent memory with Hunter.

***

In the distance, the setting sun glinted off the hard shells of the beautiful beetles. Lucy felt no compulsion to chase them. Not after last time.

She stood alone under a tree and let her mind wander. So many small decisions had led her to this moment. For better or worse, Lucy's life began to feel like a series of impulsive leaps, none of which actually led to what she expected. She'd been instrumental in leading the resistance at Rent-A-Kid, but so many had died. Could she have done things differently? Could she have saved more of them?

The scent of honey and rain and sweet perfume filled the air around her. Hunter stood next to her, holding out a star flower.

Lucy took it and inhaled deeply. "How do you sneak up on me like that? You're so quiet."

His I'm-not-going-to-tell-you grin should have irritated her, but it didn't. Not much, at least. She enjoyed how mischievous and charming it made him look.

"I'm a secret agent. It's in my job description to be stealthy."

"Uh-huh. Thank you for the flower. It's beautiful." Of all the amazing and magical things they'd seen since entering this Wonderland, she liked the star flower most, with its deep blue petals and diamond sparkles. But how did Hunter know that?

A slight breeze caressed his disheveled black and silver hair, and a faraway look crossed his face. "I always liked making wishes on stars as a kid. I thought...." He shrugged in the self-conscious way of a man not used to intimacy. "I thought this could be a wish for you." He plucked it from her hand and slid it behind her ear, then he leaned forward, his face inches from hers.

She braced herself for a kiss that never came, at least not as she'd expected it to. His soft lips brushed so gently against her forehead she could have imagined it.

"It looks lovely in your hair."

With a snort that totally broke the mood, Lucy laughed. "Yeah, sure. My nasty hair that hasn't been washed with real soap in who knows how long!"

"Doesn't matter. A beautiful woman is a beautiful woman, no matter what her hair looks like."

***

Mr. K's voice popped her memory like a bubble. "Earth to Lucy."

She opened her eyes and sighed. "Sorry. I tried, but it's so hard not to let my mind wander."

The leaves around her rustled in what sounded like laughter. "You actually did surprisingly well. A full five minutes of inner stillness before your boyfriend took over your thoughts."

"He's not my—"

A branch slapped her gently. "Hush, girl. I have eyes and ears everywhere. Call it what you want, I know what it is."

"Fine. Whatever." She scowled on the outside, but glowed a bit on the inside in a teenage-girl-crush way that made her want to throw up a little.