“He’s the Elemental High Master. From the Betrayal.”
Allyra nodded again. “I know,” she said finally, her voice soft and distant.
Jason’s eyes snapped to her. “You know him,” he intuited somehow.
“Yes,” she replied, unable to tear her eyes from Alex. “He saved my life.”
“Explain.”
She could have lied; she had become so good at it. But she didn’t. Confronted with the reality of what she was looking at, only the truth seemed adequate.
“I stumbled into the Between—don’t ask me how, because I don’t know,” she explained, the story tumbling from her lips. It was a relief to finally tell it. “I had no idea where I was, the danger I was in. The minute I tumbled through the Gate, the Revenants were alerted to my presence. Drawn to the energy I had, like sharks to blood. In no time at all, I was attacked.”
Her voice dropped and grew husky as she remembered the terror of those first moments in the Between. “I was disorientated, terrified, and completely vulnerable—utterly helpless when confronted by the Revenants. I would’ve died except for Alex. He was there. He saved my life. We escaped the Revenants, then he taught me and prepared me for what was to come.” She let out a mirthless laugh, dragging her eyes from Alex, she glanced at Jason. “Did you really believe I would’ve survived the Elemental Trials without help?”
Jason listened stoically, his expression hard as granite. “He’s dangerous, Allyra,” he said, when she was finished, his tone leaving no room for protest. “We have to tell someone—the Council.”
“No.”
Jason let out a frustrated groan. “You said this room wasn’t part of the Tunnels, that I will remember. I could still tell the Council.”
“Yes,” she acknowledged. “You could, but I think you’ll find it hard to find this room without me and impossible to get in. And, I don’t think you will.”
“Thirty-three Elementals died during the Betrayal, and twice as many Gifted gave their lives that day to protect the Source,” Jason said coldly. “What makes you think I won’t tell?”
“Because I’m your partner, and by some miracle, you’re starting to trust me.”
“Don’t burden me with sentimentality I don’t possess,” Jason shot back, but his voice had softened.
“Okay, forget the sentimentality, let’s talk cold, hard facts. You still want to win, and if you tell, they’ll lock me up, and you lose any chance you have of winning.”
Jason shook his head, conflicted. “Allyra, he’s dangerous, think what we are risking by not saying anything.”
“You know as well as I do that you cannot open the Gates from within the Between. Alex Cairns is trapped in there—he can’t hurt anyone,” she said, her eyes back on Alex. “I need to go back into the Between, give him a chance to explain. I owe him that much.”
Suddenly, she knew exactly what she had to do.
“A whole generation of Elementals are dead, and no more have been born since—that’s how deep a scar the Betrayal left on the world of the Gifted. Am I supposed to just overlook that?”
“It happened a hundred and fifty years ago,” Allyra retorted, her emotions blinding her to all of Jason’s arguments. “People change.”
Jason fell silent, his eyes fixed on Alex’s body. When he finally spoke, his voice was tired and pained. “Fine. You’re right, people do change.”
Chapter 24 – Jamie
The hallway was exactly as he remembered it—white marble walls, lined with fierce, unforgiving statues of armored Sentinels. But this time it was different. This time, he wasn’t alone.
He was alone now, but Pete and Eva were keeping watch at the last two junctions, and Gemma was the one who’d broken them out, her Atmospheric Gift making her an expert locksmith and the ideal partner in crime. This time, he felt safe, warm in the knowledge that his friends were helping him, watching his back. No, Jamie corrected himself, not just his friends; they were his team, and he could count on them. Absolutely.
So, when hands grabbed him once more, fear wasn’t the first emotion Jamie felt. This time, his body tensed, ready to fight. He grabbed the hand on his shoulder and twisted firmly, spinning his attacker around.
“Ouch!”
Jamie recognized the voice. In fact, it was almost more familiar than his own. Happy, sad, grumpy, angry, and exhilarated. Every emotion in the world—he’d heard them all in this voice.
Emma.
He couldn’t breathe.
His heart hammered in his chest, and a rush of heat flooded over him. Black spots erupted over his vision.
He fell.
* * *
Jamie emerged slowly into consciousness. His mind felt foggy and sluggish, but soon enough, the gears re-engaged, and he remembered.
Emma.
He opened his eyes and found himself looking up into Emma’s cornflower blue eyes. She was looking down at him with some concern and just a touch of amusement.
He’d been searching for her for so long that their reunion was almost anticlimactic. It was definitely ironic that she was the one to find him, rather than the other way around. The sight of her face left him breathless and at a loss for words. He fell into the simple habit of allowing his twin to take control.
She tugged him to his feet and led him down the hallway. Jamie followed her like a mindless zombie. He was numb with disbelief. Numb with relief.
Emma stopped at a side door, hidden between two Sentinel statues, and with a quick swipe of her wrist the door sprang open. Emma pulled him in behind her.
“Are you insane?” Emma hissed.
It was like they’d never been apart.
Jamie pulled her into his arms and lingered in the contact. She was warm and solid in his arms. Safe and whole. Alive.
Emma pulled gently away from him. She smiled at him fondly.
“Are you insane?” she asked again. “Didn’t the
