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Power expanded and burned Rayen’s insides, then rushed up her arms and down her legs.
She jumped in front of Tony and Gabby, raising her hands again, ready to throw a blast of energy to stop that mama-turtle-thing from charging over to where they stood in the transender landing spot.
“Ah-jeet!” a deep human voice roared from the forest.
The mama-turtle-thing halted and squatted next to her baby.
“Do not harm them,” another shout boomed. The guy making all that noise was coming closer to them.
Did he mean for Rayen to not harm the creatures or for the mama to not eat them?
And who was he that she should care?
This might be nothing more than a TecKnati trick to steal the computer.
There was a sound of branches breaking as someone rushed through the woods, then a tall young man with skin mottled a mishmash of blue and brown splashes burst into the opening.
Kaz.
Her heart leaped with happiness. Only seeing Callan would have made her happier.
Kaz rushed forward but halted next to the mama creature where he spoke soft words.
The mama dipped her huge head down and Kaz stroked her iridescent skin. A full, blue-and-silver-striped mane growing along her neck gave her a regal flare. Her body had a similar shape to a turtle’s except that her shell was flatter on top, more streamlined, and appeared furry. Dark-blue layers rimmed in a shimmering gold ran along the edges of the fluffy surface covering her shell.
The animal made soft grunting noises and lifted a paw instead of a foot to nudge Kaz gently. Silver hair flowed down over her paws and dragged the ground. Large round eyes with a blue center and gold iris looked down at Kaz with what Rayen could only describe as affection.
But those curling horns with sharp tips that stuck out the sides of her head could do some major damage if she changed her mind about attacking.
Once he had her settled down, Kaz waved them over.
Tony didn’t move and Gabby was stuck hovering above the ground unless someone pulled her along. Gabby had come a long way since Rayen had first met her. Two days ago, she wouldn’t allow anyone to touch her for fear of hearing another person’s thoughts, but a MystiK healer named Jaxxson had taught her how to shield her mind.
“Come on, let’s go,” Rayen urged and snagged the hem of Gabby’s pink shirt to tow her along.
Following several steps behind them, Tony lifted the pendant hanging on a chain around his neck. He kissed it then let the round disk fall back inside his shirt as he mumbled something about St. Christopher.
When Rayen reached Kaz, she let go of Gabby who remained floating a foot off the ground.
Kaz lifted an eyebrow at her, but anxiety rode his face in the place of his usual easy-going expression. “Why did you wait so long to come back, Rayen?”
After all she’d been through to even get back to the Sphere, she hadn’t expected Kaz, of all people, to criticize her. “We got here as soon as we could.”
“Callan is down to three hours.”
Gabby had no trouble sharing her opinion. “Rayen was zapped with a stun gun and taken away from the school last night. Tony was accused of a crime he didn’t commit and locked up. I had to hunt down a computer and parts while hiding this levitation problem, then we ended up breaking Tony out and had to make a run for it before they caught all of us.” She put her hands on her hips and leaned forward, her mismatched eyes—one green and one brown—staring Kaz down. “Whatever’s eating you must be suffering horribly.”
Kaz took a step back and scratched his head. “Sorry, but I’ve been here for four hours waiting when I should be back at the village.”
It didn’t take much to appease Gabby. “Apology accepted.”
Rayen didn’t care if Kaz was being short with them because she was in the same mood, and they needed to get going. “Tony needs time to build the computer.”
Kaz raked Tony with an angry burst. “How long will that take?”
Tony moved forward, shoulders bunched, and disgust peppering every word. “I haven’t even seen the laptop we brought back. Since Sweet Cheeks here picked out parts using your woo woo system, I have no idea how long.”
Rayen put a hand up between Tony and Kaz before they took any more steps toward each other. “We don’t have time to argue.”
Something bumped her in the back, knocking her off her feet.
Kaz grabbed her before she face-planted on the ground.
He swung her up by her arm and caught her to his chest. It’s good to be an extra-strong MystiK warrior, she mused. His skin had an interesting woodsy smell she hadn’t noticed before, but then she hadn’t been this close to him before now either.
He didn’t need to clutch her so tightly against him.
She’d explained more than once that she wasn’t interested in anyone but Callan. Kaz contended that she and Callan wouldn’t work out. She knew all the reasons, but it didn’t stop her heart from calling out to Callan, and only Callan.
She pushed away and stepped back, dusting herself off. If anyone asked her, she’d say that turtle creature had intentionally shoved her. Giving the animal her threatening look didn’t faze her one bit. She asked Kaz, “What’s with that ... thing?”
“She’s a tortalone, not a thing.”
Was he insulted on the creature’s behalf?
Gabby leaned forward. “So that’s what a tortalone is. Jaxxson said it would be easier to show me one than to explain it. I thought they were wild.”
“They are.” Kaz put his thumb and first finger in his mouth, took a deep breath and let out a shrill whistle.
Three more tortalones crashed their way out of the woods, moving slowly but on large paws that could push down small saplings. A MystiK warrior rode each one. The warriors appeared to be thirteen or fourteen and had splotches of color like Kaz’s. Tony called it camouflage skin.
As they made their way over to them, Kaz explained, “We found a small herd yesterday and have come to an agreement.”
Gabby quipped, “So you’re a turtle whisperer?”
Kaz frowned at her then at Rayen, waiting on an explanation.
Rayen eyed him and the tortalone. “I think Gabby was asking if you can talk to them.”
“I told you my gifts were different than Callan’s.”
“Right.” They were both warriors, but Callan possessed powerful kinetics where Kaz’s were not as strong, but he had empathic ability. Kaz sensed emotions, which was another reason she had to be careful to keep hers locked down when she was around him.
He motioned with his hand and the mama tortalone dropped to the ground, spreadin out her her front legs. Kaz explained, “I don’t actually speak the tortalone language, but this female leads the herd. She and I understand each other.”
The animal made a gritty sound in her throat and the other tortalones dropped to the ground, too.
A MystiK warrior climbed off one animal and climbed onto another one, doubling up. Kaz pointed at the tortalone left without a rider and told Tony, “You and Gabby will take that one, because you only need to hold on. He will follow mine.”
Tony sized up their situation. “You’re telling me we’re gonna ride something I can outwalk and they’re safe as long as you don’t tick her off and she decides to have us for lunch?”
Kaz’s easy-going nature had come and gone. “If you were not needed for the computer, I would allow you to walk and learn for yourself who is quicker.”
Tony raised his hands to ward off Kaz. “Chill, bro. I’ll ride. How tough can it be to sit on a turtle hump?” Tony held his hand out. “Give me the backpack, Xena, and just worry about holding on.”
She gladly passed off the heavy pack.
Kaz had already climbed up on the mama creature and sat on his knees. He leaned over and offered Rayen a hand up. She had to step on the mama’s two-foot-thick leg to reach Kaz’s hand.
She pushed up and stretched at the same time, extending her hand to Kaz.
Their tortalone scooped her head under Rayen’s butt and pushed up, tossing her high. Kaz caught Rayen around the waist and swung her around in front of him.
Had he somehow told the tortalone to do that?
Kaz made a strange chattering sound in his throat. The tortalone raised her head until Kaz leaned around Rayen on one side to grip her mane.
He held her mane lightly. She curved her neck forward and rose all the way up on all four legs then made a sharp bark.
The little baby next to them came out of its shell and jumped up on springy legs, bouncing back and forth, squeaking happy sounds.
Mama tortalone took the lead, plodding across the long open field. Checking over her shoulder, Rayen saw Tony holding the mane on his ride and Gabby sitting at his back, clutching his shoulders. The other two tortalones moved in sync with Tony’s, all of them maintaining the same slow pace as the leader.
She agreed with Tony.
They could walk faster. How could Kaz snap at her for taking so long to come back, then bring turtles to ride?
This was going to make her nuts. “We have to get to Callan before his BIRG Day, Kaz.”
“I know I said it was important to continue embracing our customs, but Callan turning eighteen is not the issue at the moment.”
Yes, it was, but she couldn’t tell Kaz about the wraiths that would come for Callan. Not unless she had no other choice. It didn’t matter. They still weren’t going to reach Callan in time to rescue him from the TecKnati. She tried to sound patient about their transportation. “Kaz, it has to be faster to—”
“Shh. Don’t say a thing,” he whispered close to her ear and wrapped his free arm around her waist.
She tried to push his arm away. “I think I can manage to stay on a turtle.”
He just tightened his hold.
Their tortalone started moving faster.
She smiled. Kaz hadn’t said this creature could run.
The shimmering gold-and-blue fur covering her shell swept away from each side and started flapping.
Feathers? Wings?
This thing could ... fly?
Kaz chuckled as they took to the air. If he hadn’t held her, she’d have fallen off out of shock.
Wind slapped her ponytail all around. It must have been beating up against him, because Kaz tucked his head next to hers, pinning her hair, and spoke words that were as disconcerting as the intimate feel of him behind her. “You must not go with us to free Callan.”
“Why?”
“It is not my place to explain.”
“Then I’m going with you.”
“If you do, you will put his future back home in jeopardy.”
How could that be? “What changed after I left?”
Kaz sighed. “I learned of another MystiK imprisoned at the TecKnati camp who is royalty from one of the Houses.”
Rayen recalled that the MystiKs had seven Houses based on different gifts or powers, but she was still confused. “I don’t understand, Kaz. If the TecKnati have another MystiK, I’d think you’d want my help.”
He was slow to respond. “Normally, yes, but not this time. You are not able to hide your feelings for Callan from others, especially another empath. And when you are near him, neither can he.”
It was probably the wrong reaction but hearing that about Callan made her happy.
Kaz ground out a noise.
Guess he caught her reaction.
He wasn’t through warning her. “As Callan’s best friend, it is my duty to protect him. Even from you.”
That deflated her moment of pleasure. “Who’s this other MystiK at the TecKnati camp?”
“I’m not sure how much Callan wants to tell you about her and it is his place to explain.”
Her?
