“Cooper,” I say. What is he doing here? He looks from me to the twins and I know he understands where Alexander and I are at in our plan.
Out of a subconscious instinct, I reach down and grab Alexander’s hand. “Ready?” I whisper. He nods his head and I turn back to the twins. I picture them freezing, and just when I’m about to run out into the clearing I hear the ringing sound of rock against metal. Chadian is still sharpening his sword, not frozen like I’m trying to force onto him.
“It’s not working,” I whisper through gritted teeth as panic surges through me. I look over to Cooper and he can tell by the fear in my eyes that something isn’t right.
“What?” Alexander asks, his eyes widening.
“My gift. It isn’t working,” I say, fumbling on my words.
Suddenly I hear Codian say, “I think your sword is sharp enough.” He turns toward Chadian and I hear Alexander take in a sharp breath. I turn to Alexander and give him a questioning look.
“The necklace,” Alexander whispers. I turn back and can barely get a glimpse of a glowing green rock around his neck. “That’s what’s keeping them immune to your gift now.” Alexander and I are quiet for a moment, trying to figure something out. We need to get to Zavy and Toby so they can use this necklace to get out of the cage. Paylon has his back to them, but Chadian and Codian will see us for sure. It’s three against three, but we only have one sword. I take count of their weapons and see one hanging on Paylon’s side, and the one I was given from the castle the night I fled is being hammered by Chadian. We’ll need to even the playing field somehow. Just as the thought of needing a distraction crosses my mind Alexander leans in to whisper in my ear.
“All right here’s the plan,” Alexander starts explaining. “I’m going to go around the clearing and deeper into the woods. I’ll start making a lot of noise. I’ll start a fire and I’ll cut down trees, I’ll just get their attention, okay? And then at least one of them will have to come after me, right? So then it’ll be two on two and I think you can handle that.”
“Are you crazy? That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard,” I push my words out, trying to keep quiet.
“Adaline, we don’t have any other choice,” he says sternly.
“Just a couple of hours ago you didn’t want to come here at all,” I say, confused by the fact that Alexander is willing to risk his life for Zavy and her brother when she really isn’t the best friend he thought she was. Alexander looks at me, but doesn’t respond. “What is it?” I ask, knowing there is some reasoning behind this heroic act he feels he needs to perform.
Alexander drops his eyes from mine and says, “They are important to you so they are important to me.” I lift his chin and force him to look me in the eye and I know there is more he isn’t telling me, but before I can push him further he says, “I’ll make sure to get out of there as soon as I can, but you can’t wait for me, okay? You get Zavy and Toby and get back to the camp and get everyone out of here. I’ll meet up with you, okay? I promise.” He stops and we both look at each other for a long time. Something flashes in his eyes and suddenly I feel as though I have known him all my life and this is the moment I have to lose him. Maybe it’s a glimpse as to how I felt toward him before my memories were restored, but as quickly as the feeling comes it fades twice as fast. I throw my arms around his neck and he pulls me into a tight hug. I hold on to that quick spark of love for Alexander; a man I know nothing about but can love with my whole heart.
“Get out of there alive okay?” I mumble into his shoulder, feeling my throat tighten up.
“I promise,” he says again. “Take this.” Alexander pulls the sword from his side and hands it to me.
“You take it,” I push it back to him. “You need to protect yourself.”
“I’m not leaving you here without a weapon,” Alexander starts to say defensively, but I stop him.
“I’ll take one of theirs,” I tilt my head to their camp.
Alexander considers this for a moment before nodding in agreement. “I’m going to stop and tell Cooper the plan when I get to the other side, and then you just need to wait for one of these guys to leave.” He turns and walks deeper into the woods, fading out of sight.
I pace back in forth, not being able to keep myself still. I look out over the clearing again and see that Cooper has sunk deeper into the woods, probably because Alexander made it over to him. I turn my focus back to the clearing. Paylon is still flipping through the journal and Codian and Chadian are still bickering.
“Give me that rock,” Codian says to his brother who refuses to quit striking it against his sword. My sword.
“No I’m using it,” Chadian responds as Codian launches forward trying to rip the rock from his hands. The two start wrestling the other to the ground over the rock.
“Enough!” Paylon shouts over at the twins. Chadian freezes with his fist targeted for Codian. Instead of striking his brother he grins, taking victory in the wrestling match. They both fall silent and sit back down. Paylon continues to complain, “I’m trying to decipher this journal and I can’t do it with
