Page 1 of Awakened and Betrayed
1
The last of the forest’s untamed trees flash by my window, suddenly replaced by manicured landscapes and the brick visages of Solace’s town center. On my previous visits to the heart of this caster town, I found it idyllic and homey. Now, I don’t find any comfort in the tidy images left behind in the wake of our moving SUV. Knox squeezes our interlaced fingers, the supportive action his attempt to break me away from the melancholy of my thoughts.
“What should we do when we’re done with the elders?”
The guys all shrug their shoulders at Knox’s question, but Valen’s eyes find mine in the reflection of the rearview mirror. We stare at each other for a couple seconds before he refocuses on the road, leaving Knox’s question hanging unanswered in the air.
It’s been three days since the lamia attack. Three days since I lost Talon. I’ve spent every second of those three days holed up in my room with the guys, avoiding everyone else at all costs. I’ve been unfazed by the visitors, or their banging on the door. Unmoved by the words and apologies shouted through the wood and stone barrier. Everything outside of my room has been met with silence.
That is, until yesterday when a summons was slipped under the door demanding my presence at a meeting called by the Elders Council. It seems their patience has finally run out at my offering zero answers and my refusal to see anyone but the guys. The summons didn’t exactly saybe there or else, the wording was more flowery and embellished, but the underlying message was obvious.
The SUV dips down a ramp and Valen navigates into a parking spot. We pile out of the vehicle, our movement and the shutting of car doors echoing throughout the underground parking structure. The guys circle themselves around me, as we file into a stairwell and start to make our way up.
I don’t know if their positions are a conscious or unconscious decision, but it makes my bruised heart swell with tender affection. Valen and Bastien fall in behind me, Ryker is to my left, Knox to my right, and Sabin leads the way. Based on how they’ve surrounded me and the looks on their faces, there’s no question that I’m being protected. Everything about their countenance shouts,you’ll have to go through me to get to her.
I activate the runes on my sternum to allow how I feel in this moment to flow into them. This is the first time I’ve activated these particular runes since we discovered what they could do on the night the guys got their Chosen marks. But I need them to feel all the affection and gratitude I have for what they’re doing, for what they’vebeendoing for me.
From the minute I was lifted out of the blood and ashes in the back of the car, I have been cared for, patiently listened to, and supported in ways I’ve never experienced before.
I’ve spent so much of my life picking myself up off the ground when the world got in a solid hit. With the exception of Talon, it’s been me relying on me. But that’s changing now. I’m learning that I can share my grief and heartache. That it doesn’t have to be me against the world. Not if I don’t want it to be.
Letting the guys in on what I’m feeling right now, seems a million times better than any words I could string together to express what they’re coming to mean to me. Acknowledging smiles sneak across everyone’s faces, but each of us stays quiet and alert.
We make our way out of the stairwell, and I quickly deactivate the runes.
A solitary caster awaits us. He gives a slight nod in greeting, then instructs us to follow him. I take a deep breath and slip my game face on. I’m not looking forward to what’s about to go down. I don’t want to fucking describe what happened, or answer any questions they may have about it.
I relive it enough every day.
I’m sure the elders have gotten detailed accounts from the others that were there that night. I’m not sure why my version of events is so necessary. What is it they think I’m going to add that they haven’t already been told?
The guys and I figure that this has less to do with my version of events and more to do with the Elders Council wanting details about my abilities. Unfortunately, there’s a strong possibility that they could want more information about what a Sentinel is, too.
As much as I’d hoped that the binding on my reading would keep what I am under lock and key, I’m pretty sure the fucking lamia just blew that hope right out of the water. If Enoch and the others were paying attention, the questions will start piling up for them. I suppose there’s a slim chance that theBaby Sentinelnickname Faron was throwing around in that cellar will stay buried down there, but I’m not holding my breath.
Between the weird pet name, Talon’s dying account of where I come from, and the display of some of my abilities, I doubt any of that is going to stay in the shadows like I want. Enoch looks like the kind of guy who doesn’t keep secrets from dear old dad. It just sucks that his dad happens to be a council member, and the jury’s still out on just where I stand with that lot.
The caster that’s leading us pushes through an ornate set of black doors, and we follow him into a room that seems to be an odd combination of courtroom and amphitheater. To my left, seated in a row of elevated desk-like tables, is the Elders Council. I recognize the three that I’ve already met.
Elder Balfour, portly and balding, looks back at me with an air ofI’ve got better things to do.Elder Nypan’s smile is friendly and gleaming, and the overhead lights wink at me from his completely bald, ebony head. He really needs to have a talk with Elder Balfour about embracing thebald is beautifulmovement. While Elder Nypan looks like Seal and makes bald look good, Elder Balfour looks like a plumper version of George Costanza.
Elder Cleary watches me as we all settle in, his bright blue eyes accentuated by short, expertly styled, dirty-blond hair. I see pieces of Enoch in his father’s face, but it’s just touches here and there, and it makes me wonder what Enoch’s mother looks like. There are two other elders I don’t recognize; one is Elder Kowka and the other Elder Albrecht, but I couldn’t say which one is which.
I pull my gaze from the raised position of the elders and find Lachlan and his coven of paladin seated in a type of jury box off to the side. It’s the first time I’ve seen any of them since they clustered around the back of that black suburban. My eyes connect with Aydin’s and Silva’s fixed stares, but I’m quick to look away and shut myself off. Enoch, Nash, and Kallan sit in a matching jury box on the opposite side of the room. Enoch gives me a head nod, and I answer the gesture with a slight lift of my chin.
The guys and I are escorted into the room until we’re standing dead center in front of the elders. Everything about this setup oozes intimidation and power. I’m forced to look up at the elders on their raised throne-like chairs that are tucked neatly behind a long table. There’s no doubt in my mind that they want us to feel small and less significant in this room.It’s all mind games,I tell myself, as Elder Balfour instructs the guys to have a seat behind me.
“Welcome, Vinna. We are glad you could make it and that you are looking much better than the last time we saw you,” Elder Balfour offers in greeting.
We assess each other for a second before I decide he’s waiting for me to respond.
“A summons is a summons, or so I’m told. I’m sorry the blood and ash weren’t to your liking. Here I was thinking I pulled it off,” I deadpan.
A couple of chuckles bounce around the room, and Elder Nypan starts to cough. I catch the smile on his face before he brings a fist up to his mouth, covering it up. Elder Balfour isn’t as amused, judging by the way the skin around his eyes crinkles when he narrows them at me.
“Vinna, we’ve requested your presence here today to address an issue that was brought to our attention.”
He pauses dramatically, and I wait for him to elaborate.
