Kayla woke up the next morning with Carl’s arm wrapped around her. She didn’t move right away, content to enjoy his warmth and comfort. After their initial explosive union the previous night, they’d finally managed to fall into bed where their continued discovery of one another became a tender and gentle exploration of sensations.
She lightly ran her fingers along the edge of his jaw, memorizing his features. His arm tightened around her, pulling her closer, and he mumbled something incoherent against her hair. She couldn’t help but smile. She’d never imagined feeling this way about anyone. Every day with Carl was a gift, and she fell a little more in love with him. She brushed a soft kiss against his lips and slipped out of bed.
Picking up the discarded clothing off the floor, she headed to the bathroom and dropped them in the sanitation machine. The glint of the emerald necklace tangled in the clothing caught her eye. She carefully extracted it and held it in her palm, once again recalling the shared kiss with Alec. Her eyes squeezed shut. There had to be a way to keep their bond from overwhelming her.
Kayla opened her eyes again and stared down at the pendant. Without warning, fragmented memories rushed into her mind. Darkness and fear. Screams and a sense of urgency. A woman’s face and then a pair of hands pushing her through a narrow crevice.
She shook her head, trying to clear it of these images. It had been years since she last dreamt of the ruin collapse. The dreams had plagued her often as a child, but they came less and less as she grew older. Lifting the necklace, she turned to face the mirror and slipped it over her head. It might not ever be possible to know the identity of the person who saved her, but she’d honor the memory of Alec’s mother at the very least.
As she gazed into the mirror, her reflection seemed to shift and blur. A slender blonde with blue eyes returned her gaze and fingered the emerald necklace. Kayla stared in shock at the image. Then, just as quickly as it appeared, the image vanished and she was staring at herself again.
Her heart pounded, and she took a step back from the mirror. Okay, Kayla, keep it together. You’ve seen these sorts of things before. It’s just your imagination.
But she wasn’t in the ruins this time, and the face in the mirror was the same one that haunted her memories. She rubbed her temples and tried to make sense of what happened. Brant’s words from the night before echoed in her mind as she lifted her hands to study them. Was it possible she’d channeled energy again without realizing it and caused this hallucination?
Kayla forced herself to look back up into the mirror again. Other than looking a little pale, it was only her reflection looking back. She let out a sigh of relief. At least she hadn’t caused another earthquake.
She turned away from the mirror, determined not to use any energy until she got a better handle on it. In an effort to calm her nerves, Kayla took several deep breaths and focused on her morning routine, feeling marginally better by the time she finished.
Carl was still sleeping when she emerged from the bathroom. Keeping her footsteps quiet, she opened the closet door and nearly swore aloud at the sight. The small room was overflowing with clothing and a various assortment of shoes. Seara had obviously been busy.
Intimidated by the large selection, she frowned while looking through the clothing. She pressed a button on the far wall and drawers slid open, revealing a wide array of undergarments. Looking back at the clothes hanging in the closet, she scowled. Even if she wore something different every day, it would take months to run out of clothes.
Totally out of her element, Kayla closed her eyes and reached out, determined to wear the first thing she touched. When she opened her eyes and realized a formal evening dress was in her hands, she nearly growled.
She grabbed the outfit next to it instead. It was some sort of short, black dress with a swirling white pattern at the bottom. It looked similar in style to the dress she had on last night, although she was hardly an expert. At this point, it didn’t really matter. If it covered her girly bits enough to placate the pretentious Omnis, that was good enough for her.
Kayla grabbed a set of silky undergarments, which she secretly admitted preferring over her old, more functional ones. Admiring their soft texture, she smiled. Carl’s reaction to them last night had been even better. She’d have to bring some of them back to camp when they returned.
She finished dressing and then cursed as her gaze fell on the shoes. There was no getting around it. As much as she’d prefer to wear her boots or go barefoot, Seara would probably hunt her down if she tried it. For such a mild-mannered woman, her mother could be something of a tyrant when it came to clothing.
Kayla dug through the selection and found a pair of relatively harmless-looking white sandals. She slipped them on and wiggled her naked toes. It wasn’t quite barefoot, but it would work.
Satisfied she had managed to actually dress herself, Kayla left the closet and shut the door behind her. She grabbed her commlink off the dresser before slipping out of the bedroom and heading down the hall.
She scrolled through her messages as she walked. There was a note from Veridian apologizing for not telling her about Jinx, and she smiled. From all appearances, her scavenging partner was head over heels for the spunky redhead. She was glad. Veridian hadn’t been this happy in a long time.
“Good morning,” Seara greeted. Kayla paused and looked up from her commlink in surprise to find both her mother and Alec sitting on the couch together.
“Hi,” Kayla replied, then looked at Alec who was leaning against the back of the couch with his arm draped over the top. Golden hair fell neatly to his shoulders while his blue eyes blazed with an unspoken emotion as they scanned her up and down. She swallowed, feeling the heat of his gaze at his slow perusal. The pull along their bond flared to life, and she battled against the urge to channel energy toward him.
Kayla struggled to beat down the temptation and not give in. It seemed to be even worse when her guard was down. It didn’t help that she was attracted to him either. “I didn’t think you were going to be here so early. I thought you said seven.”
He gave her a warm smile and stood. “I did, but I wanted to stop by this morning to speak with your mother.”
“I didn’t mean to interrupt. Do you want me to come back?”
Seara laughed and motioned for her to join them. “Of course not. Come sit down with us. I see you discovered your closet. I hope it wasn’t too overwhelming. I know I got a little carried away, but you look lovely. That dress is a perfect choice.”
Kayla muttered her thanks as she sat across from them. Telling her I closed my eyes and grabbed the first thing I touched probably isn’t the best idea.
Alec choked on a laugh, and Kayla shot him a warning look. ”So help me. If you tell her, I’ll hurt you.”
His eyes lit with amusement. ”Your secret is safe with me, my dear.”
Ignoring his teasing, she leaned forward. “What’s going on?”
Alec gestured to the side of the room where a small table was set up containing several covered dishes. “We weren’t expecting you to be awake so early. Would you like some breakfast? Afterward, we can head to my office to get started on your training.”
She grimaced and shook her head, still a little rattled by the vision in the bathroom. The thought of eating made her stomach lurch in protest. Besides, it was better to get this whole training thing done than to delay the inevitable. “No, thanks. Let’s go to your office.” Kayla turned to her mother. “Seara, would you mind letting Carl know when he wakes up? I’ll catch up with him later.”
“Of course.”
Alec stood and led Kayla outside toward the priority elevator. Brant had returned, and she gave him a small finger wave as he fell into step behind them. The security officer returned her greeting with another polite nod.
“You’re still wearing the necklace,” Alec observed, clearly pleased.
She touched it thoughtfully and debated whether to share what happened with the mirror. Sensing her thoughts, he stopped and turned to face her. Concern etched his brow as Alec studied her. “What’s wrong, Kayla?”
She hesitated and then glanced at Brant. Biting her lip, she told Alec silently about what she had seen. ”I know it sounds crazy,” Kayla added when she’d finished. ”I probably just have an overactive imagination or something. I was still half asleep.”
“This type of thing has happened before, hasn’t it?”
She nodded, thinking about all the times she’d seen faces or images in the ruins. Alec inhaled sharply. “We should discuss this in my office. It may change some of the training I had planned for you.”
Kayla followed Alec to the elevator and Brant stepped in behind them. The security officer pressed the button to take them to the executive offices, and the doors closed. Alec was quiet, and she could sense several conflicting emotions coming from him. There was no doubt her words had troubled him. Apprehension filled her, and Kayla wondered if something was wrong with her.
“There’s not,” Alec said quietly.
“If you’re going to be sifting through my thoughts, the least you can do is tell me what the hell you’re thinking in return.”
He nodded. ”Fair enough. I just need a few minutes to sort all of this out. I’ll explain as soon as we get to my office. There’s something you need to see.”
Kayla frowned. The doors to the elevator opened, and they stepped out into what she recognized as the executive offices. Alec had brought her here the last time she visited, but he turned down an unfamiliar hallway this time. “You moved your office?”
“Yes. I’ve taken over the High Council leader’s office.”
That made sense, even if it was a little weird. The last time she was here, it was Alec’s father, Edwin, who had been the leader of the High Council. The difference between father and son was astounding. Although Alec seemed to possess a regal composure and nearly unflappable control, he wasn’t cruel and power hungry. There was compassion and temperance within him, qualities Kayla couldn’t help but admire. She wondered if part of that was Seara’s influence.
A middle-aged woman with brown hair sat behind a large desk and rose at the sight of Alec. She offered him a brief bow. “Good morning, Master Tal’Vayr. Your messages have been transferred to your desk unit. As you requested, I made arrangements for our lead designer to meet with you this afternoon. The appointment is on your calendar.”
He nodded and turned back to Kayla. “I’d like to introduce you to my assistant, Sheila Tousel. If you ever need anything, please let her know.”
Kayla smiled at the older woman. “Nice to meet you.”
Sheila beamed back at her.
“Brant, wait here,” Alec instructed and led Kayla inside. Her eyes widened in astonishment. In addition to a regular office area, there appeared to be an expansive bar area, conference table, and living room. Large screens lined one of the walls in the office area. On the adjacent wall, a shelving unit displayed a vast selection of exquisite artifacts. The desk in the center of the office area was massive and looked as though it had been hand-carved centuries earlier. The entire office was almost as big as her entire ruin rat camp.
“Wow,” she murmured, strolling through the office. After finishing her perusal of his new digs, Kayla sat down on the edge of his desk. “It’s a lot bigger than I was expecting.”
“The size has come in handy. I’ve spent more than a few nights here since I took this position. It’s going to be a while before things are running smoothly again.”
“That bad?” Kayla’s voice was filled with concern. “Seara mentioned it’s been difficult since you took over.”
Alec waved off her concerns. “Any time there’s a major shift in power, some people try to test the limits and push boundaries. It’ll settle down soon enough, but we’ve had to remain vigilant.”
Kayla frowned. Although he made light of it, she could sense his worry. “If this isn’t a good time to do this, I can come back some other time.”
Alec shook his head and walked over to her. “Not a chance. Having you here right now is the one bright spot in this entire mess.”
Uncomfortable with the direction of his words, she looked away. “You were going to tell me what that was about in the elevator.”
He hesitated and then nodded. “Yes. Your talents are unusual. Most Inner Circle members have only a few abilities, but you seem to have more than most people.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’d like to show you something to see if my suspicions are accurate,” Alec began and moved to stand behind his desk. He activated his computer terminal and typed in a few commands. An image appeared on screen, and Kayla gasped.
The woman on the display was the same one she’d seen in the mirror. “That’s her. That’s the woman I saw. How did you know?”
“That’s my mother,” Alec said quietly as he looked at the picture. “I believe you may have inadvertently channeled energy and seen an echo of the past.”
“How is that possible?”
He shut down the image, and then his gaze briefly traveled back to the necklace around her neck. “Our energy is divided up into distinct groups, just like the elements. We have the ability to channel earth, air, fire, or water energy. Lesser known and extremely rare are those who can channel life or spirit energy. Spirit is the energy which draws all four elements together. In all our recorded history, there have been less than a handful of people able to tap into all of the elements at will. I believe you may have this ability.”
Kayla frowned, watching him as he walked around the desk and back toward her. “I’m not sure I understand. Why is it called spirit energy?”
“This is a little more difficult to explain, but there are a seemingly infinite number of worlds or dimensions parallel to ours. When we channel energy, we tap into small rifts that exist in-between these worlds. Essentially, we’re tapping into elemental energy from another world and pulling it through the spirit veil and into ours. We can also send it back. The energy threads you sense are ripples already existing between these worlds. There haven’t been many studies since the talent is so rare, but people who channel spirit energy can control the veil. They have the ability to tap into these other worlds freely to use the energy we send back there. Most of us are limited to one element. However, spirit channelers don’t have those same limitations. The other worlds call to them and they can open up new rifts, pulling energy from multiple elements. They can also sometimes hear and see echoes of the past.”
“Echoes of the past?” Kayla asked hesitantly. “You mentioned that a few minutes ago. That doesn’t sound good.”
“All life is made up of energy,” Alec explained. “When someone dies, their energy doesn’t disappear. It transcends the spiritual veil. As a spirit channeler, you can recall this energy. You may see and hear things that occurred years before. Unfortunately, details on spirit channelers are sketchy, so we don’t know the full scope of their abilities. A lot of the information was lost over the years.”
Unease filled Kayla as she remembered all the times she’d seen images of people who used to live within the ruins. “So you’re saying I can see people who have died?”
“Something like that. It’s more that you’re seeing the echoes of their energy. But even more importantly, you may be able to tap into more than one of the elements.”
Great, she thought with a groan. Not only am I one of the zap-happy circle freaks, but I also see ghosts.
“It’s not a bad thing,” Alec explained. “It’s an extremely coveted ability. You aren’t just limited to one type of energy.”
She threw her hands in the air. “How is this a good thing? I don’t know how to use any of it, and I’m not sure I even want it. Other than giving me some tingles now and then, I don’t see much use for it. If I was responsible for that earthquake, that’s not really beneficial.”
He chuckled. “Maybe not, but there are several other talents which could be largely useful. You could help to revitalize the soil and make plants grow, redirect water and locate resources. There’s really no limit to your potential. It’s just a matter of learning how to tap into it.”
Her eyes widened at the implications. “Okay, so how do I do that?”
Alec moved to stand directly in front of her, taking her hand in his. “The first thing you need to do is be able to recognize the different types of energy. Your mother is an extremely strong earth-based talent. We’ll ask her to work with us later. I can also tap into earth elements to a lesser degree, but my talents are primarily air-based. I can show you that now, if you’d like.”
“Air-based? But you read thoughts and influence people. How is that air-based?”
“That’s not all I can do, Kayla,” Alec admitted with a smile. Suddenly, the air around the room began to move. Kayla’s eyes widened in amazement as a slight wind circulated through the office. It lightly caressed her skin and moved through her hair.
In addition to the physical awareness of his energy manipulation, she could feel the pulse of his controlled efforts along their bond. Through their shared connection, Kayla was able to explore the way he moved the energy throughout the room. Curious, she sent him a steady stream of energy and watched in fascination as it blended together to strengthen the wind in the room.
Her energy flowed through and around Alec, and he took a step closer, gazing at her as though seeking an answer to a question. Kayla shivered as he lifted his hand, stroking the back of his fingers across her cheek. The effect of his touch was immediate and indescribably powerful. Unfiltered sensation and emotion rushed through her, whispering vows that some long dormant part of her longed to hear. Alec released the wind and sent a teasing pulse of energy over her, caressing and setting her alight with desire. Kayla closed her eyes, unable to formulate a coherent thought as the exquisite awareness of his powerful energy merged with hers. Some unknown instinct rose from inside her and answered in kind with her own wordless response.
As more of her energy met with and surrounded Alec, he bent down and brushed his lips against hers in the barest of kisses. It was soft as a whisper but more potent than a drug. The sensations coursing through her were intoxicating. Tiny warning bells rang in the back of her mind, but she ignored them, too fixated on the energy to give them much importance. Kayla sent more energy toward Alec, and he returned it in the form of teasing, intricate waves tasting like a promise. Kayla trembled, marveling at the feeling and unable to remember the last time she’d felt so alive.
As Alec’s energy continued to move across her skin, his touch was almost reverent as his fingers traced the edge of her collarbone. It felt as though his energy flowed through every inch of her, awakening and caressing along the way. Not wanting him to stop, Kayla opened herself up to the energy completely.
At the rush of power, Alec pulled her into his arms. His kiss became more demanding as he expertly teased her lips with his own. She was too far gone to think beyond the sensations rushing through her. Whimpering slightly, she leaned into him and begged him to finish claiming her.
Alec froze in shock at her silent plea. He pulled back slightly and looked down into her eyes, searching her expression.
“By the gods,” he murmured in awe and traced his finger along the side of her face. “You are more exquisite than I ever thought possible. Completely uninhibited and ruled by your passions.”
Her blood was still singing from the flow of energy. She wove a seductive web of energy around him as her hands explored his firm chest. He trembled slightly, and his fingers reflexively tightened around her. Kayla curled her fingers into his shirt as she pulled him down to her again. Whispers of ancient secrets and memories flowed through her as she kissed him.
“Claim me,” she thought toward him, both demanding and pleading simultaneously.
“Kayla,” he groaned. “You don’t even realize what you’re asking…”
Alec wrapped his arms around her, but his face was filled with a combination of regret and longing. As though unwilling to let her go, he held her close and whispered, “You speak with the voice of your blood, my love. I belong to you completely, just as you belong to me. As much as I want to claim you here and now, I won’t share you with him. As it is, I don’t know how I can just let you go back to him again. Not now, not after seeing and experiencing everything you are.” Alec’s voice trailed off, and he breathed in her scent as though trying to memorize it.
“Let the trader go, my love, and I will claim you,” Alec promised softly. He released her and took a deep breath as he slowly withdrew his energy. There was no pain, just an aching sense of loss where she’d once felt complete.
When the energy was gone, Kayla shuddered from the withdrawal. A moment later, the realization of what had nearly happened struck her. She blinked back the confusion and slid off the desk, taking an unsteady step backward. Her hand flew to her swollen lips, still feeling the effects of his kiss.
Alec was watching her with a mixture of longing and tenderness. Both their residual passion and her confusion intermingled in a melting pot of raw emotion. Even without sharing energy, their shared bond had never been stronger. She ran a hand through her dark hair in agitation. What was she thinking coming here alone with him? She could kick herself. “Dammit! Not again! What did I almost do? I’m such an idiot.”
“No, Kayla,” Alec said with a sigh, “you’re not an idiot. You’re one of the most brilliant and alluring creatures I’ve ever met. You just haven’t learned enough to go on anything other than instinct. Your abilities are ancient in origin. Watching you and feeling you channel energy is breathtakingly beautiful. It’s passionate, fiery, and everything our kind used to represent. We’ve forced ourselves to stifle our abilities and instincts over the centuries so we blend in with outsiders. But you… I don’t even know how it’s possible. Your instincts have remained untouched and pure.”
Kayla frowned, still shaken by what had happened between them. “What kind of ass-backward compliment is that?”
Alec smiled at her. “It wasn’t meant to be, my love. It was a true compliment. You are everything I’ve ever dreamed our kind could be.” He took a step closer and said softly, “I want you completely and in every way imaginable. I know you want me in the same way, but you need to resolve your feelings for Carl first.”
She glared at him. “There’s nothing to resolve. I love Carl. This…” she gestured back and forth between them, “whatever just happened can never happen again. I’m serious. It can’t happen.”
He nodded patiently and took another step toward her, caging her against the desk. “I know you care for him, but has your blood ever sung the way it did just now for me? Have your instincts ever taken over when he touches you? Have you ever begged him to claim you? He can’t give you what you need.”
Kayla’s eyes clouded as her temper kicked in. “Stop pushing, Alec. No, it’s not the same, but I wouldn’t want it to be. Do you think I like not having control over myself when the energy thing kicks in? Call it instinct if you want, but it’s not me. At least with Carl, I have control over my choices. I choose to be with him. He may not be able to do the energy thing, but I love him.”
Alec closed his eyes and took a deep breath as though trying to steady himself. When he opened them again, Kayla knew he was trying to regain control of his emotions. “I know you do. You’ve openly said as much both to him and to me. But what you haven’t admitted to yourself is how you feel about me. I can sense it in your thoughts and feelings. When you were in my arms, begging me to claim you, I felt the depth of your emotion. If our bond were merely superficial, it would be different. but it’s not. We’re connected on a deeper level than you could ever have with your trader. Why do you keep running away?”
Her stomach clenched and churned like a terrifying storm brewing. How could she admit something she didn’t even understand? Was Alec right? Were her emotions for him real, or was it just a by-product of the energy? She shook her head, denying him once again. “I can’t. I’m sorry, Alec. I just can’t do that.”
“Then I’ll continue to wait until you’re ready,” Alec said quietly and adjusted the strap on her dress. His hand lingered for a moment on her shoulder before he removed it. His frustration was obvious, even without their shared bond, but she couldn’t give him what he wanted.
Even though I practically threw myself at him just now.
Kayla turned away and tried to rub the chill from her arms. She missed the warmth of his energy and that sense of connection. These strange thoughts and feelings were overwhelming, leaving her unable to find her balance.
“My sweet, beautiful Kayla,” Alec murmured and lifted her head with the tip of his fingers. When she met his eyes, he gave her a small reassuring smile. “Just take a deep breath, my love. It’s going to be all right. You don’t have to do anything. Sometimes I have to keep reminding myself you’re new to all of this. You have so much natural ability that it’s easy to forget you haven’t grown up here with us. I don’t want to frighten you.”
“I’m not afraid,” she lied.
Although she was sure he knew the truth, Alec didn’t dispute her words. Instead, he took a step back to give her space and clasped his hands behind his back. “I’ll arrange to have someone who can manipulate water energy and fire energy provide you with a demonstration later. You’ll need to create small connections with them just to observe them. I would suggest you not send your energy to mix with theirs. Even though you’re already bonded, it will probably prove to be irresistible to them too.”
She winced at the implication of his words. “I led you on just now by sending you energy when you were doing the wind thing, didn’t I?”
Alec gave her a wry smile. “Yes. I realized a few minutes too late that you weren’t fully aware of what you were offering. The rush from sharing energy can be difficult to resist, especially when it feels the way yours does.”
Kayla groaned and squeezed her eyes shut. “Okay, so don’t share energy with someone unless you’re ready to hop into bed with them.”
He chuckled. “It’s usually only with your bonded partner, my love. With a permanent bond, there’s no filter and no limit. That’s the nature of a permanent bond. You can create smaller connections with other people and send energy back and forth without it being an issue. It’s necessary for teaching, sharing memories, or pooling energy to accomplish something one person can’t do alone. The larger and more powerful the connection, the more intimate sharing energy becomes. Strong feelings for one another or sharing energy simultaneously only enhances the effects.”
Kayla flushed, remembering how it felt to open herself completely to him. It was as though he knew every thought and feeling she’d ever experienced. “So it’s like this with everyone? It just depends on how much energy you share with them?”
“Not quite. Each person’s energy has a different… flavor,” he tried to explain. “The stronger and more potent your bloodline, the more desirable the energy. Different types of energy will usually be drawn to their opposing counterpart. So someone who channels air energy may be more drawn to an earth channeler. A fire channeler will be drawn to a water channeler and vice versa. Your emotions also are tied into it.”
“So… wait. If Seara’s an earth channeler, does that mean my father channeled air energy too?”
“You would think so, yes,” Alec admitted and rubbed his chin as though he were considering her words. “It’s possible to have a relationship with someone who isn’t your counterpoint, but it’s not as satisfying. Your father was rather remarkable in the sense he was able to channel both air and fire equally. Not many people have the ability to specialize in more than one element. Once he bonded to your mother, his ability to channel air became even stronger. He never lost his fire ability though. I can’t help but wonder whether his strong dual talent is part of the reason you ended up a spirit channeler.”
“If I’m a spirit channeler, I’m not your counterpoint,” she pointed out. “How does that fit in?”
He gave her a slow smile. “You’re unique and incredibly desirable. It’s not just your level of power, which alone is impressive. You can connect with any of the elements. Your energy seems to shift to become your partner’s perfect balance.”
At her confused look, he added, “That means you’re most likely irresistible to everyone, but you won’t necessarily feel the same way. You’ll only want to connect with someone who can return a significant amount of energy to you. Anything less will leave you… unsatisfied.”
Kayla couldn’t help but laugh at his description. “Is that your polite Omni way of saying I won’t have an orgasm?”
“Something like that.” Alec chuckled, and his eyes glinted meaningfully. “If you’re interested in a demonstration, I could show you how easily I could take you there with my thoughts alone.”
She held up her hand to stop him. No way was she going down that road again. “I think you already proved yourself. I was about halfway to climaxing a few minutes ago.”
He gave a half-hearted shrug as though to say it was her loss. He was probably right, but she’d already caused enough complications for one day. Kayla leaned against the desk while considering his words. Other than with her mother, she’d only ever made a connection with Alec. She wondered how small the connection would need to be to prevent something like this from happening with anyone else.
Hearing her thoughts, Alec offered, “I’ll supervise your instruction. I won’t risk anyone trying to claim you when you’re already bonded to me. It’s possible, of course, but the claim would be fleeting and wouldn’t have the effect you need or desire.”
Kayla wrinkled her nose. The details of this energy business seemed endless. “I don’t understand. I thought a claim was a bond.”
“It is, of sorts,” he agreed. “A sexual claim is fleeting. It lasts as long as the energy does. It may last longer if you have feelings for the person you’re with, but just like a bad relationship, it can be ended. A permanent bond is something much deeper and can’t be destroyed. You tie your aura or soul to the other person in a permanent way. A sexual claim combined with a permanent bond reinforces and strengthens both.”
Just like that, the metaphorical floor collapsed beneath her. She swallowed as the full impact of his words registered. “We have a permanent bond. You’re saying my soul is tied to yours?”
Alec hesitated and then nodded. At her horrified expression, he sighed. “It’s not as bad as it sounds. I won’t ever hurt you, Kayla. It goes both ways too. You have a piece of me with you, just as I carry a piece of you. It’s another type of balancing point.”
Kayla shook her head, feeling overwhelmed. She slumped down in one of the chairs in front of the desk and put her head in her hands. “I don’t want any of this. Can’t we just turn it off?”
He moved behind her and rested his hands on her shoulders. As he gently kneaded her muscles, a soothing wave of energy washed over her. “I’m not trying to frighten you. It’s truly a beautiful and amazing thing. If you give it time, you’ll understand much more. You’re trying to learn a lifetime of knowledge right now. Give yourself time to absorb all of it.”
“Maybe,” she said quietly and closed her eyes. The combination of his hands and the energy sweeping over her was wonderful. She considered telling him to stop, but it seemed to be his way of trying to calm and reassure her. She was coming to realize energy manipulation was second nature to him. Damn, this is nice, but I don’t like wanting it so much.
Alec’s commlink beeped, and he pulled away. He was quiet for a moment, reading. When finished, he raised his head and his eyes shone with an inner fire. Kayla stared at him, transfixed by the allure of his blue eyes. “What’s going on?”
“The test results on your water samples are complete.”
Her eyes widened, and she straightened in the chair. He had her full attention. The turnaround time was faster than she’d thought. “What do they say?”
“The water is potable.” He scrolled through the message. “They found some minor contaminants, but it’s safe. They suggest some minor filtering for drinking purposes but there were no unusual readings. This is excellent news. Another drinking source will take an enormous amount of pressure off our current water resource management. We may be able to lift some of our current restrictions and even utilize the water energy from the river.”
She jumped up from the chair. “Oh, wow! Carl is going to freak out.”
Alec nodded and mused, “I’ll arrange to have some additional personnel and equipment sent over to map the cavern. Carl mentioned he didn’t believe the river could be fully explored on foot. I’ll speak with our researchers about acquiring some underwater cameras to navigate through these areas.”
“What about floatation devices? We could just ride down the river and see where it goes.”
Alec shook his head. “No. Not right away. Once the passage is mapped, that might be a possibility depending on where it leads. But some of these underground rivers are treacherous. We don’t know how far they go, whether they continue to go underground, or if there’s enough oxygen in deeper areas of the cave.”
His concerns were valid, but they wouldn’t deter Kayla from exploring as much as she could. She was anxious to get started. “Fine. I’ll wait a bit, but I want to start mapping it immediately.”
“Of course,” Alec agreed, walking over to press a button next to the computer terminal. Less than a minute later, his assistant entered the room.
“Sheila, I need you to contact Director Borshin and tell him to put together an excavation and analysis team for an underground river. Mistress Kayla Rath’Varein will be the point of contact. Find out what equipment the teams will need and send the requisition requests directly to me for approval. If there’s any other equipment Mistress Rath’Varein requires, put a priority on it.”
Sheila nodded. “Of course, Master Tal’Vayr. I’ll take care of it right away.”
The assistant left the room, and Kayla shook her head. “You don’t need to do all that, Alec. I feel like you keep giving me special treatment and it makes me feel weird.”
“I am,” Alec admitted and sat down at the desk. He folded his arms and leaned back in his chair. “You’re going to have to get used to it. If you insist on overseeing the river analysis, I intend to make sure you have everything you need. I’ll do everything in my power to keep you as safe as possible.”
Kayla pursed her lips. It was tempting to argue, but the thought of telling Carl the news about the water samples was far more enticing. “Okay, I’m going to go find Carl. I want to see his face when he hears the news. Are we done here?”
His eyes darkening at the mention of Carl’s name, he hesitated for a long moment and finally nodded. “I have a few things I need to handle this morning. Brant can escort you back to your quarters so you can speak with your trader. I’ll stop by in a couple hours and have the designer meet us at your family’s quarters. If it makes you more comfortable, we can continue your training there.”
“All right,” Kayla agreed and opened her commlink to make sure Carl was still there. When he didn’t answer, she frowned. It wasn’t like him to not answer. With a shrug, she tried calling Seara. Her mother answered immediately but wasn’t much help. Carl had left not too long ago, claiming he had some errands to run and would be back later.
Kayla sighed in disappointment and closed the commlink. It was too early for his appointment with Director Borshin. He must be on some other trader business or possibly visiting his family. She drummed her fingertips on the desk. Patience was never her strong suit, and she was itching to tell him the news.
Alec looked up from his monitor. “If you’re that anxious to tell him, I can locate him for you.”
She bit her lip. It was still unnerving how he knew exactly what she was thinking. “How?”
“Any time you use the main elevators, access certain areas, or make a purchase in the towers, it’s tracked. In some areas, we use facial recognition and biometric scanners. He may be conducting some of his trader business on one of the lower levels. I can run a quick check to determine his last recorded location.”
Intrigued, she walked over to Alec’s computer terminal. He pulled up a display and entered in Carl’s name. A list of purchases and locations appeared on the screen, and Kayla frowned. “That’s kind of creepy. You can locate anyone in the towers?”
“Yes,” he said and isolated Carl’s recent activity on the monitor. “We use it primarily to eliminate criminal activity, to record shopping habits for product recommendations, and occasionally to help locate lost children. We don’t usually make it a habit of spying on our residents though.”
Kayla took a step back and shook her head. The idea that someone could track her every movement had her ruin rat instincts kicking in. This must have been how they discovered her location when she was last in the towers. “Thanks, but I should probably just wait until he gets back.”
Alec looked at the screen thoughtfully for a moment. He typed in a few commands and pulled up another screen. Some unknown emotion flickered in his eyes briefly. “It appears as though he’s at the Flamingo Café on Level Thirty-Two. I’ll go with you to show you where it’s located. Carl was just as anxious as you to get these results.”
His offer and reaction surprised her. She glanced at the screen but didn’t see anything unusual. Something felt off though. “You sure? I thought you had things you needed to do.”
“I do, but my appointments can wait a bit. It would be best if I accompanied you if you’re going to one of the public levels.”
Alec stood and offered Kayla his arm. When she touched him, she got the distinct impression he was suppressing his feelings.
He led her out of the office, and Brant immediately stood at the sight of them. Alec turned to Sheila and gave her some last-minute instructions about rescheduling his appointments. Once he finished, they headed toward the elevator with Brant falling into step behind them.
As they approached the elevator, Alec told Brant, “Carl is dining at the Flamingo Café on Level Thirty-Two. Kayla has some news she wants to share with him.”
Brant nodded, and as soon as the elevator moved, he pressed a button on his wrist unit. When the doors opened, they stepped out into a busy commercial district. This area was markedly different than the area from the previous evening. It was busier, more congested, and lacked the rich decorations and elaborate fountains. The people were dressed more casually, and many seemed hurried as they walked in and out of the stores. Numerous armed security personnel patrolled through the large corridor.
One of the armed security officers approached them and bowed low. “Welcome to Level Thirty-Two, Master Tal’Vayr and Mistress Rath’Varein. We have four security details assigned to you on this level. Do you require an additional escort?”
Alec shook his head. “That won’t be necessary. We’ll be at the Flamingo Café.”
The man gave a small salute before stepping away and conferring briefly with Brant. Kayla noted several of the armed personnel had circled around them and began following at a discreet distance.
She leaned in closer to Alec. “Why are they following us?”
Alec wrapped his arm around her waist and spoke silently in her mind. ”This area isn’t part of the Inner Sanctum. It’s open to the general population. Until things settle down in the towers, security has been heightened. It’s nothing to worry about, just a precaution more than anything.”
It seemed like a pretty hefty precaution. She wondered how dangerous the towers had become over the past month. As they walked through the crowd of people, Kayla was acutely aware of the surprised and curious looks when they were recognized. A small crowd began to gather as more people noticed them, and Kayla pressed closer to Alec’s side. She’d never seen so many people in one place. Thankfully, the security officers encouraged these onlookers to keep moving and go about their business.
Alec took the attention in stride as they quickly approached the café. The restaurant was bustling with activity. Once again, the contrast between this place and the restaurant from the night before was obvious. The din of plates and loud voices echoed throughout the room. A ragged-looking man wearing a white shirt and a bright-red tie stood behind a desk studying his computer terminal.
Without bothering to look up, the man said, “It’s going to be at least an hour wait unless you have a reservation. If you want to wait, register your commlink and we’ll notify you when a table’s available. Otherwise, you can try the café on Level Forty-One.”
“No, thanks. I’m actually looking for Carl Grayson,” Kayla said. “Do you know if he’s here?”
“Lady, I don’t care who you’re looking for,” the man began and looked up. When he recognized them, his face paled, and he stammered, “I-I—You—You’re—You’re Master Tal’Vayr and Mistress Rath’Varein!”
“Very good,” Alec said, his voice dripping with irritation. “Now, perhaps you’ll answer Mistress Rath’Varein’s question.”
“My apologies,” he said and quickly began checking his computer terminal. Kayla started to pity the guy as he squirmed under Alec’s gaze.
“Ca-Carl Grayson, you said? The trader?”
When Kayla nodded, he jabbed his thumb in the general direction behind him. “He’s over at one of the back tables. I’ll take you to him right away.”
The man scampered from behind his desk, practically pushing people out of the way as he led them through the crowded room of tables. As they approached the back of the restaurant, Kayla saw Carl sitting at a table with an extremely attractive dark-haired woman next to him. Her hand rested affectionately on his arm and she was laughing at something he said.
Carl looked up as they approached. His expression quickly became one of surprise and he stood. “Kayla? What are you doing here? I thought you were going to be busy this morning.”
Kayla glanced at the woman sitting next to him. She was slender and petite with long, dark hair arranged in an elaborate style and large, wide-set brown eyes. Her face was heart-shaped with high cheekbones and full, pouty lips. She was absolutely stunning.
“We just got the lab results back, and I wanted to tell you what they found. Are we interrupting?”
Carl glanced down at his companion before shaking his head. “No, we were just having breakfast.” He hesitated for a moment as though trying to come to a decision. Finally, he gestured to the woman. “This is an old friend of mine, Leah Monroe. Leah, I’d like you to meet Mistress Kayla Rath’Varein and Master Alec Tal’Vayr.”
The woman’s eyes lit up at the introduction. “How wonderful. Carl, I knew you were acquainted with both Master Tal’Vayr and Mistress Rath’Varein, but I didn’t realize you were on a first-name basis with them.” She stood and extended her hand, giving both Kayla and Alec another long look. Her gaze lingered on Alec the longest and she batted her eyes at him. “It’s a pleasure to meet both of you. We’ve already ordered, but please join us.” She winked at Carl and patted him on the arm. “We can always finish catching up privately later on, darling.”
Darling? Kayla’s eyes narrowed on the woman before turning back to Carl. He looked pained at this development. Alec cleared his throat. “Kayla, if there are no objections, I think joining them is an excellent idea. You didn’t have a chance to eat breakfast this morning.”
At these words, the host quickly offered to get some additional chairs and disappeared. Kayla studied Carl, wondering what was going on. He caught her eye and shook his head, his eyes promising he’d explain later.
She frowned, wishing he could communicate wordlessly the way Alec could. She hesitated for a moment and then asked, “Would it be better if we talked later?”
“No, it’s fine,” Carl insisted and shot a warning look at Alec before gesturing to his companion. “Leah was just telling me she’s now a journalist for The Omni Observer.”
The host brought over two additional chairs and menus. “Is that so?” Alec inquired, holding out one of the chairs for Kayla to take a seat. “I believe I’ve heard of you. You report primarily on gossip and events concerning the Inner Circle, correct?”
After Kayla had taken her seat, Alec sat beside her and draped his arm across the back of her chair. His thumb idly ran across the top of her shoulder and over the strap of her dress in an intimate gesture. Carl stared hard at Alec’s hand as he and Leah took their seats again. Kayla stiffened and started to shrug him off, but Alec’s hand lightly squeezed her shoulder in warning.
“I need you to trust me and play along. This reporter could be a problem.”
Kayla paused and cocked her head. Something was going on that she didn’t understand. She turned to assess the unfamiliar woman again. Leah was sitting close enough to Carl that another inch or two would put her in his lap. The woman was practically rubbing up against him like an animal in heat. The whole scene was beginning to feel a little surreal and a whole lot wrong.
“Oh, yes. I’d absolutely love to do a feature about you two,” Leah declared and gave them a brilliant smile. Her teeth seemed a little too white. Now that Kayla thought about it, her nose was a little crooked too. Maybe someone had broken it once. Although, that could just be wishful thinking. Her eyes were definitely asymmetrical though.
Unperturbed by Kayla’s scrutiny, Leah chattered on. “I’ve been trying for weeks to get your assistant to set up an interview with you, Master Tal’Vayr. I know you must be busy, but the public is dying to know more about your relationship with Mistress Rath’Varein.”
Leah put her hand back on Carl’s arm and purred, “Honey, you should have told me you knew Master Tal’Vayr and Mistress Rath’Varein personally. I never thought in a million years I’d be having breakfast with the leader of the High Council and his fiancée.”
“Right,” Carl muttered and took a sip from his drink.
Honey? Kayla’s fists clenched under the table and her nails bit into her palms. Watching the intimate way Leah was touching and looking at Carl was excruciating. The urge to reach across the table and backhand the woman was becoming more and more attractive. She fumed silently, knowing she had no right to be jealous, especially considering what happened earlier between her and Alec.
A server came over to the table, and Alec ordered a cup of herbal tea for both himself and Kayla. She ignored the menu. Her appetite had fled the moment the woman started making bedroom eyes at Carl.
“I have to say, your story is one of the most romantic I’ve ever heard,” Leah gushed. “Imagine living on the surface for all those years and then having Master Tal’Vayr find you and sweep you off your feet. I was practically in tears when I heard you two were engaged to be married. Was it really love at first sight?”
Carl choked on his drink. “Leah, I don’t think they really want to discuss their personal lives with a reporter.”
“That’s all right, Carl,” Alec said magnanimously, waving off Carl’s objections. “I know many people are curious about our relationship.” He made a show of looking around before leaning forward in a conspiratorial manner. “I knew there was something special about Kayla the moment we met. Her beauty, charm, and wit captivated me completely. I’ve been entranced by her ever since.”
Alec lifted Kayla’s hand and pressed a kiss on the back of her hand. Kayla gaped at him, dumbfounded by his solicitous behavior. Carl clenched his jaw in anger and struggled to appear impassive. The server took that moment to reappear and placed two steaming cups of tea in front of Alec and Kayla. She wondered at the wisdom of placing hot beverages on a table of occupants about to erupt into a knock-down, drag-out fight. Regardless of Alec’s assurances, this was starting to look really bad.
“Would you like me to order for you, my love?”
Kayla blinked at Alec and barely managed a nod. He placed her order and took a sip of his tea. Once the server had disappeared, Leah leaned forward, eager to resume their conversation.
“Is it true you saved Mistress Rath’Varein’s life at the council meeting?”
Alec’s expression remained neutral, but Kayla sensed his emotional turmoil at the reminder of the council meeting. He was still coping with the death of his father. Concerned for him, Kayla opened her mouth to tell the woman exactly where to stick her nosy questions.
Alec quickly cleared his throat and put his hand on top of hers to stop her. “It was a difficult time for both of us. I’d rather not discuss it.”
“Oh. Of course.” Leah nodded in sympathy, but her eyes gleamed with the juicy tidbit of information.
Kayla’s eyes narrowed. The amount of polite niceties being exchanged to cover the steaming piles of shit at the table was absurd. And if that woman didn’t stop stroking Carl’s arm, she was going to end up reaching across the table and bitch-slapping her.
Alec squeezed her hand. Whether it was an attempt at reassurance or to keep her hand pinned so she didn’t make good on her intentions, she wasn’t sure.
“Most of the information about the council meeting is public record. You can retrieve the details from the archives. As far as my personal feelings are concerned, let’s just say there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her. Having Kayla in my life has been the greatest gift I could ever imagine, and I look forward to our future together.”
Carl’s expression was thunderous at the declaration.
“That’s enough,” Kayla told Alec silently, observing Carl’s reaction. ”I know she’s a reporter and you’re trying to maintain an illusion, but you’re being cruel.”
“How romantic,” Leah sighed dreamily and fanned herself.
Alec took another sip of his tea. “He should have considered the consequences before agreeing to meet with a reporter.”
Realization dawned. Alec had obviously known Carl was meeting with a reporter. That was the reason he had abandoned his other appointments to escort her to the café. He’d wanted to make sure he could direct the conversation.
Unaware of their silent communication, Leah leaned against Carl and looked up at him. “It was love at first sight for us, wasn’t it, honey?”
“Is that so?” Alec raised an eyebrow and lowered his cup. “How fascinating. I had no idea Carl had a love interest here in the towers.”
Kayla jerked her head up and looked at Carl in confusion. With those few words, her entire world shifted and all the blood rushed out of her face.
“What?” Her voice came out as a squeak.
“Oh, definitely,” the woman chattered on, oblivious to the growing tension at the table. “Of course, we were teenagers when we first met, so it was probably more like lust. But either way, I haven’t been able to keep my hands off him since the moment we first met.”
Carl gave Leah a sharp look. “We were kids and ended things when I left.”
The server took that moment to place a plate of pastries in front of Kayla. She eyed the plate distastefully, more tempted to throw it at the dark-haired vixen than eat anything.
“So you’ve known each other for a while?” Alec asked casually.
“Oh, we go way back.” Leah ran her hand up Carl’s chest playfully. “We were a pretty hot item before he left for the surface. Weren’t we, honey?”
Carl gently removed her hand. He focused solely on Kayla as he explained, “Leah and I met during our classes at the Institute. We dated a couple years ago before I was commissioned as a trader. I ran into her this morning, and we decided to have breakfast to catch up.”
“Uh huh,” Kayla murmured, pretending to be interested in examining the contents of her plate. Her gaze fell on the utensils, and she wondered how well they’d work as a weaponized projectile. That bitch was going down.
Alec reached over and casually moved the utensils out of reach. Kayla scowled at him and inwardly pouted at his attempts to curtail her bloodthirsty ambitions.
Leah leaned up against Carl, kissed his cheek, and teased, “I’m just biding my time until his contract is up and he comes back home to me. I’m not planning on letting him get away again.”
Carl stiffened. “We can talk about it later.”
Irritated with the whole situation and no longer willing to play this game, Kayla pushed away her untouched plate and stood. “Alec, I don’t think I’m hungry after all. We should be getting back. You had all those things to handle this morning anyway.”
“Of course, my dear,” Alec stood and offered a polite smile to Carl and Leah. He put his arm around Kayla to lead her away, but before he could take a step, Carl jumped to his feet.
“Kayla, wait,” Carl urged. He glanced down at Leah and added, “I’d like to speak with you about the samples from the lab.”
Alec raised an eyebrow. “My fiancée wishes to return to the Inner Sanctum, Trader Carl. I’ll have my assistant forward a copy of the results to you.”
Carl ignored Alec, his worried gaze urging Kayla to listen to him. She hesitated and then nodded. “It’s all right, Alec. After all, it’s why we came here in the first place.”
“Excuse me for a moment,” Carl said absently to Leah. Stepping around the reporter, he followed Alec and Kayla into a back hallway near the restrooms.
Brant motioned toward an empty office. “I’ll hold this room secure until you’re finished.”
Once the door shut behind them, Carl began, “This isn’t what it looks like.”
“What isn’t?” Alec asked coolly and stepped around some stacked boxes. “That you’re conversing with a reporter who could potentially put Kayla in danger? If you make one comment or slip, Kayla could become a target. We discussed this exact type of thing. I was under the impression you had Kayla’s best interest at heart. Obviously, that assumption was incorrect.”
Carl’s gaze hardened. “I’d never put her in danger.” He turned to Kayla, and his eyes softened. “I ran into Leah on my way to my parents’ place. I haven’t seen her in over a year and she wanted to catch up. I didn’t want to take her back to my parents’ quarters because that would be asking for trouble. She can be persistent. I offered to take her to breakfast, chat for a bit, and then I was planning on leaving. I had no idea she’d become a journalist until after we sat down.”
Confused, Kayla looked up at Alec. “What do you mean? Why would meeting with her put me in danger? I thought you were the one in trouble.”
“Not exactly,” Alec admitted with a sigh. “Seara told me she’d shared some of the growing troubles in the tower. Your mother is more perceptive than I realized. Unfortunately, it’s true. There have been some recent threats against me. More recently, we’ve learned some specifics and tower security believes you’re a potential target. Our engagement was originally meant to offer you some protection and show the towers our families were united. That’s even more imperative now with these threats. It’s well known in the Inner Circle that a bonded mate is sacrosanct. Any attack on you would also be construed as an attack against me and the towers. If this reporter suspects our relationship is anything other than what it seems, you could be in considerable danger.”
Kayla frowned. Alec’s explanation gave even more weight to Seara’s words from the night before. She wasn’t as concerned about herself, but the thought of Alec being in danger worried her. She may not fully understand the depth of her feelings for Alec, but she didn’t want to risk anything happening to him either. “Okay, so what’s your plan to stop this?”
“Ideally, Carl should leave and return to the trader camp,” Alec suggested. “If you remain here with me, it’ll give more credibility to our announcement. You’ll have the opportunity to train and learn how to use your talents to protect yourself. You can still oversee the river evaluation, but you’ll also be able to work with designers to discuss your idea to build another tower.”
Carl scoffed and pushed away from the wall. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you? You’d do just about anything to get me out of the picture. I wouldn’t be surprised if you were responsible for this whole setup today with Leah.”
Alec raised an eyebrow at the accusation but didn’t respond. Carl’s eyes narrowed. “That’s it, isn’t it? The whole scene out there was another ploy to manipulate Kayla into what? Making her jealous? Making her think I’d put her in danger by meeting with a reporter?” Carl took another step toward Alec. “Did you get off on putting your hands all over her in front of me? That whole charade came dangerously close to backfiring on you just now. Or is that your new goal? Push us so far to force the truth out so you can jump in and play hero again?”
“That’s enough,” Kayla announced, pushing against Carl’s chest to stop him from advancing on Alec. She had her doubts about Alec knowing, especially given that he’d suddenly changed his mind about bringing her down here, but she didn’t think he’d go so far to actually orchestrate the whole thing. “It was my idea to come find you this morning. Alec put aside his work to bring me down here to find you. He’s been trying to help and protect me through all of this. You’re not being fair.”
“Nothing about this situation is fair, Kayla,” Carl said in a low voice, his eyes flashing dangerously. “Leah asked me if I was seeing anyone, and I couldn’t tell her the truth. Then I’m supposed to sit back and not say anything while everyone in the towers believes you and Alec are engaged to be married? To top it off, Alec is giving you these elaborate presents and going out of his way to try to win you over. And with that energy connection thing, it’s probably just a matter of time before he actually does it. So no, Kayla, it’s not fair. But there isn’t a damn thing I can do about it.”
Kayla froze in shock at Carl’s words. She hadn’t realized the depth of his feelings about the situation. Turning to look at Alec, she asked in a shaky voice, “Can you give us a minute?” Alec hesitated, clearly unhappy with the request but finally nodded in agreement.
Once he’d left the room, Kayla looked up at Carl and whispered, “What are you saying?”
“I don’t know how long I can do this, Kayla,” he said in frustration and rubbed his hands over his face. “You’ve seen the way people look at you and treat you here. You’re part of the Inner Circle and that’s a world I’ll never belong in. Every damn person I’ve talked to in these towers has been carrying on about the fairy tale of Kayla Rath’Varein. The princess from the towers has returned, and Alec’s a damn savior for bringing you back. And maybe they’re right. I know better than most what it was like for you growing up as a ruin rat. You deserve the type of life he can give you and I can’t.”
Her heart thudded at his words, and she felt a sick, sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. “How can you say that? You know that’s not what I want.”
Carl’s face was pained. “If I took you outside right now, put my hands on you, and declared my feelings for you, I’d be arrested on site. Those security officers would assume I was trying to accost the High Council leader’s fiancée. You can’t ask me to sit by and pretend everything is fine when Alec has you on his arm like some sort of trophy. I love you, but I can’t do that. I was a fool for thinking I could.”
Kayla felt something within her break at his words. As much as she loved him, she could never put Alec’s life or anyone else’s life in danger just to appease Carl’s jealousy. After everything they’d been through, how could he not realize the depth of her feelings for him? She swallowed, her throat suddenly dry as she wondered whether she was asking too much from him. If this situation were reversed, she’d be furious and wouldn’t have put up with it at all. Anguish threatened to consume her at the thought that she needed to make a choice between him and someone else’s life.
Unwilling to succumb to the jagged edge of despair and hopelessness his words evoked, Kayla struggled to bury her more vulnerable feelings and harness her fury and outrage instead. She couldn’t afford to allow his words to break her or feel any doubt about her decision to protect Alec. The desperation and hurt might threaten to tear her apart, but focusing on her anger would offer enough strength to carry on in the face of her pain.
“No, Carl. You’re only a fool for thinking I’m something I’m not. I’m not and never will be a trophy. No matter how they dress me up or what they call me, I’ll always be a ruin rat. I’ll never stop looking at a piece of jewelry and seeing my camp’s next meal. I’ll never stop looking at a security system and trying to figure out how to circumvent it. I’ll never stop trying to figure out how to stay one step ahead of everyone else just so I can keep everyone I care about alive. Because, at the end of the day, that’s what this whole charade with Alec is about.”
“Then put an end to the charade, Kayla,” Carl argued and took a step toward her. “Alec’s a big boy. He can take care of himself. Stop living with one foot in both worlds. If you want to live on the surface, do it. If you want to stay here with Alec, own up to it. Don’t use the damned bond as an excuse. You’re stronger than that.”
Kayla reared back as though he’d slapped her.
“You self-righteous bastard,” she hissed and shoved him away from her. Hard. “You don’t know anything about it. You have no idea what it’s like to lose yourself to this power. It’s an addiction. It’s consuming. Your will disappears and you become this other… thing. A monster. You lose all control, but it’s not you… It’s not…”
Her voiced cracked as her eyes welled with tears. Carl’s eyes widened, and he took another step toward her. “Shit. Kayla, I didn’t mean—”
“No.” She took a step backward, not bothering to hide the angry bitterness in her words. “I believed in you, Carl. I thought you understood how I felt about you. I was wrong, and that’s on me, but you’re wrong about something too. I don’t belong here. I never have. When I look around at the people in these towers, I see nothing but shallow people who are obsessed with clothing, gossip, and politics. They have no concept of what life is really like.”
Her eyes burned from the tears threatening to spill over onto her cheeks. “You’ve seen the ruin rat camps, but you haven’t seen the outlying family camps. They’re a thousand times worse. The only reason Veridian and I weren’t shipped to one of those camps when we were kids was because I agreed to take risks other people weren’t willing to take. You think I’m a good scavenger? It’s because I didn’t have a fucking choice. I went nose-to-nose with the traders because no one else would. My life, Veridian’s life, everyone in that damn camp… they were counting on me to do what needed to be done. No one else had the balls to stand up to any of you. And what did that get me?”
She let out an ugly, forced laugh. “I watched the mother who raised me die from an infection OmniLab medicine could have easily treated. Pretz was murdered simply because he protected me from a low-life Omni wannabe rapist. Then, I get attacked and nearly killed because another trader decided to use me to clean up the corruption. To make matters worse, I fell in love with that same trader. Even when my world went to hell and everything I knew was ripped away, I held on to the hope that I’d managed to find the one person I could believe in and trust.”
Kayla closed her eyes at the onslaught of raw emotion coursing through her. Disappointment, hurt, betrayal, and an overwhelming sense of loss filled her. They were all useless emotions. She pushed them aside and dug deep to find the last of her dwindling strength. Her eyes hardened as she raised her head to look at him once more.
“That’s what life really is, Carl. That’s the ugly, dirty, gritty truth. It hands you hard lessons and forces you to adapt. When you get complacent and start to hope, it gives you an even harder lesson by taking it all away.”
Whatever he saw in her expression made him pale. A look of panic crossed his face and he reached out, taking another step toward her. “Kayla, I never meant—”
She sidestepped him and pinned him with a glare. “No. Don’t touch me. I don’t belong with you either. One of the first things you learn as a ruin rat is to keep your distance from a trader. I broke that rule, just like I broke all the others. I’m the one who’s really the fool, I suppose.”
He froze and dropped his outstretched hand. “Don’t do this. Please, God, don’t do this, sweetheart.”
She didn’t answer. There was nothing else to say. Everything seemed to be falling apart around her, and she didn’t know how to make it stop. She blinked back the tears as she turned away from Carl. She couldn’t do this. Not now. She was destroying all of them.
Kayla fled from the room and ignored her name being called from behind her. Her heart felt as though it were breaking into a thousand pieces. She ran back down the corridor toward the priority elevator, pushing her way through the masses of people in the crowded corridor. Don’t fall apart, she told herself repeatedly. It became her mantra as her footsteps pounded on the ground in time with those words.
When she reached the elevator, Brant slipped in behind her. She hadn’t realized he’d been following her, but she should have known. Kayla turned away, not willing to let him witness her misery. She must have been unsuccessful because his voice was almost gentle as he asked, “Do you want to go to your family’s quarters?”
Not trusting herself to speak yet, she nodded and wrapped her arms around herself as though that gesture would prevent her from falling apart. Brant shot her a worried look before stepping forward and programming the control panel. Refusing to give into the tears that continued to threaten, she took several deep breaths as the elevator shot upward. When the doors finally opened, Kayla forced herself to slowly walk down the empty hallway toward her family’s quarters.
Brant hesitated at the entrance. “Do you want me to go in with you?”
She shrugged, not caring one way or the other, and walked inside. Brant frowned and followed her just inside the common room. Thankfully, Seara was nowhere to be found. Kayla’s movements felt almost robotic as she went to her bedroom, closed the door, and sat on the edge of the bed, dropping her head in her hands.
His words had hurt, but it went deeper than that. Their argument only helped to clarify her feelings for him, and the reality was terrifying. It didn’t matter that she hadn’t moved into his room at camp or not. She’d already tied herself to him in every way imaginable, and the thought of possibly losing him scared the hell out of her.
She would never have agreed to this engagement ruse if Alec weren’t in danger. If her being here was a liability, maybe it would be better if she returned to the surface. Alec could keep pretending they were engaged until things settled down, and it would prevent any repeated incidents like the one earlier. At least now she knew to avoid using her energy, and they could put the training on hold until things settled down. The hardest part was the situation with Carl.
The bond between her and Alec was just complicating the matter, and she didn’t trust herself enough to remain here until she got it under control. She needed some distance from both of them and time to think.
Kayla stood and walked over to the closet to pull out her bag. Without bothering to further analyze her actions, she quickly pulled off the dress and put on her old clothes and UV-protective gear. Grabbing her bag off the bed, she threw it over her shoulder and left the room.
Brant straightened as she entered, looking at her change of clothes and bag in surprise. “You’re leaving?”
“That’s the plan,” she replied and headed toward the door. Brant stepped in front of her, blocking her passage and held up his hand. “I won’t stop you, but you need to give me about thirty minutes to make some arrangements. Master Tal’Vayr won’t want you to leave the towers without me accompanying you. It’s not safe.”
Kayla glared at him and dropped her bag on the floor. “Okay, this has gone far enough. I’ve allowed you to follow me around because, quite frankly, I had too much other stuff going on to give a damn. But I don’t need or want a babysitter, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to let you follow me out of the towers. I won’t be responsible for what happens to you out there. So back off and sit your ass down.”
Brant raised an eyebrow. “My apologies, Kayla. I know you’re upset, but I swore an oath to protect you. I cannot allow you to leave without me.”
Kayla’s eyes narrowed at his choice of words. Allow? Seriously? Fuck that. She wasn’t going to allow anyone to stop her from leaving. “This is your last warning. I don’t feel like dealing with this shit right now, but I could definitely handle kicking someone’s ass. Either get out of my way or it’ll be yours.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Fine,” she snarled. The rush of adrenaline helped to clear the emotional haze from her mind. With her fist clenched, she took a step forward and swung at him. Brant caught her wrist, and there was a brief moment of surprise when she realized he might not be as fluffy as she first thought. Nice reflexes, she observed silently even though she’d telegraphed the move fairly well. Balancing on the balls of her feet, she widened her stance to take a more defensive position. Turning her body slightly, she used her elbow to jab him in the gut. He inhaled sharply at the contact and tried to make a grab for her, but she quickly moved out of the way. Kayla didn’t have much physical bulk, but she was fast and knew how to fight dirty.
Brant lunged forward to grab her again, and she hooked a foot around one of his ankles. Twisting her body, she jerked her foot forward, trying to unbalance him. The movement caught him by surprise, and she thought there was a quick flash of approval in his eyes before he took them both down to the floor.
Kayla tried to push herself off of him, but he seized one of her wrists. With her free hand, she swung her fist to the side and connected soundly with his nose. Brant swore loudly as his eyes began to water. With a grunt, he rolled over on top of her, effectively pinning her against the floor.
Considering he was twice her size, Kayla was at a disadvantage in this position. She wriggled against him to no avail. He blinked to clear his vision and stared down at her, shifting his position slightly so she could breathe. With a huff, she blew the loose hair out of her face and glared at him. There was a trickle of blood coming from his nose, but Kayla felt little sympathy. After all, she’d warned him. Brant leaned over her and a few strands of short, dark hair fell across his forehead. Not bad fighting skills for a pretty boy.
He eyed her warily. “Are you done yet?”
“Not even close.”
Kayla shifted and tried to jerk her knee up. Brant loosened his grip to stop her before she could connect. It was enough. With a twist, she escaped his grasp and scrambled to her feet. He swore again and lunged for her. She jumped out of the way and he bumped into one of Seara’s tables. It toppled over and fell to the floor with a crash.
Knowing he was already off balance, Kayla threw her body weight into his. He slipped backward as she fell into him, and he moved to cushion her fall as they hit the floor. She kicked out her leg, feeling it connect with some part of him. He grunted, trying to grab her leg but she rolled over. Reaching down, she snatched the weapon from his holster and hopped to her feet. Aiming the weapon at him, she warned, “Stay down, Fluffy, or I’ll zap you.”
He scowled. “Fluffy?”
“Mmhmm,” Kayla agreed, watching as the security officer propped himself up on his elbow.
Brant rubbed his ribs but didn’t move any further. “I admit you handle yourself better than I expected, but I still can’t let you leave without an escort.”
She arched an eyebrow and reached down to grab her bag from the floor. “It doesn’t look like you’re in much of a position to stop me.”
“Wait, Kayla,” Brant said quickly. “It’s the blasted Inner Circle who’s plotting to move against Master Tal’Vayr. These aren’t just threats. We’ve uncovered a definitive plot. If you walk out those doors without me, how will you defend yourself against them? Do you think it’s a secret you can’t control your energy? Master Tal’Vayr sent me to you for a reason. Your lack of training leaves you vulnerable. Any Inner Circle member could coerce you into using your energy bond against Master Tal’Vayr. Do you want to be responsible for his death?”
She paused and looked down at him, trying to decide if he was telling the truth. “What do you mean? Do you know who’s behind these threats?”
“No,” he admitted. “All we know is that someone wants Master Tal’Vayr and some other key individuals removed from the High Council. OmniLab’s databases were hacked to obtain information about you. They were moderately successful and managed to retrieve some of your files. We haven’t been able to trace the origin of these hacks yet. We believe their intention is to try targeting you in an effort to force Master Tal’Vayr into stepping down. I’m supposed to stay with you to prevent any other Inner Circle members from getting close enough to harm you.”
“There aren’t any Inner Circle members on the surface,” she pointed out, more convinced than ever that leaving was the right decision. “Why would Alec want you to follow me there?”
Brant started to pull himself into a sitting position, and Kayla shifted the weapon in her hand. Acknowledging her threat, he stopped moving and remained still. “There are some Inner Circle members who aren’t accounted for. It’s also not as difficult as you might imagine, bribing people on the surface for favors. We monitor everyone who comes and goes, but deliveries and messengers are sent out to the trading camps every day. All of these individuals are outside our immediate reach once they’re on the surface. We’re auditing the camp records to look for any ties to people in the towers.”
Kayla frowned and shifted the bag on her shoulder. The pieces were beginning to fall into place. The audit of Carl’s records, Seara’s fears, and Alec’s concern all made more sense.
“No. Thanks for the info, but I can’t stay here.”
Brant started to object, but she held up her hand. “You’ll be chewed up and spit out if you try following me, Fluffy. I can handle myself. But thanks for trying, and I’m sorry about this.”
Kayla glanced at the weapon to make sure it was set to stun before firing at him. A low-pitched noise sounded, and the security officer grunted before his body went lax. She knelt over him to make sure he was unconscious before leaving the weapon next to him. His other weapon was still in her bag.
With another mental apology, Kayla turned and ran from her family’s quarters. If she remembered correctly, she had only minutes before he regained consciousness.
The elevator moved quickly downward, and she took a deep breath when it arrived at the large entrance area. Melvin was sitting behind the desk and jumped up at her entrance. “Mis—Kayla, you’re leaving?”
“Yeah, it’s been fun,” she said with a wave, not halting long enough for him to object. Grabbing her helmet from the rack on the wall, she put it on and headed into the adjacent parking area. The overhead doors slid open, allowing the bright sunlight to spill inside. Being an Inner Circle member apparently had its perks, and her speeder was parked in a priority area close to the exit.
Kayla climbed on the back of her speeder and fired up the engine. As she pulled out of the garage, she gave one last glance up at the towers. This was why it was always better to travel light. It had taken less than ten minutes for her to leave the towers and escape to freedom.
As she traveled across the desolate landscape, Carl’s words came back to her. The tears she’d been suppressing began pouring down her cheeks. Leo had warned her against having a soft heart. When you let people in and allowed yourself to care about them, your emotions chained you more tightly than any possible prison.
Regardless of escaping the towers, Kayla wasn’t truly free. She wasn’t sure if it was even a possibility anymore. Her entire life was a huge mess and, for the first time, she didn’t have a clue how to go about fixing it. Feeling lost, she programmed in the last known coordinates for her former ruin rat camp with the hope they hadn’t moved on yet. Maybe going home would finally give her the answers she desperately needed.