Page 137 of The Stone Initiation
Serath’s fists tightened. “Sir, the elite trial is—”
“The only way she can bond to the elite team,” Basque interrupted. “Theonlyway.” He gave Serath a stern look and the elite’s jaw ticked. “By all means involve the other team members in the training, but I want her under you.”
Under him…Oh boy.
He had no idea how bad that would be. But we couldn’t let him find out. I looked across at Serath and plastered a polite smile on my face. “I look forward to working with you, elite.”
He finally turned his head to look at me, his expression a mask of polite indifference. “And I you, Miss Walker. And I you.”
CHAPTER57
The sun was up by the time I got back to dorm. I hadn’t expected Basque to hang out for a get-to-know-you session, but being dismissed so abruptly stung. Fuck him. I’d done without him for two decades. I didn’t need him. He’d held back the elites though.
Probably discussing my training planunderSerath.
Fucking hell, the last thing we needed was to be thrown together like that. How would I focus on training if…urgh. I’d have to find a way. Romi’s life was at stake. My focus would be on becoming good enough to pass this elite trial.
Questions sprung to mind now, like how had we ended up in the eastern settlement? Basque said HQ had a mole, but did our diversion to the outer eastern settlement mean we had one here too?
Shar, Touron, and the twins were waiting for me in my room. Melanie hovered by the window looking spectral and mournful, but her expression brightened at the sight of me.
“You’re all right!” She clasped her hands together. “We were so worried.”
My gaze tripped from face to face, and gratitude thickened my throat. “You guys…”
Touron crossed the room and pulled me into a hug.
I hugged him back, inhaling the fresh cotton scent of his Lastonflex top.
He released me, and Shar took his place. I wasn’t a hugger, not usually, but I’d make an exception today.
“I thought he got you,” Shar whispered. “Back at the settlement when you didn’t make it to the library. I came back for you, and I saw you on the ground just as the guardians showed up. You were almost at the edge of town by then.”
“You fought him off and ran,” Ginia said. “How did you do it?”
How? Crap. “I didn’t…It was Derek.”
“Derek? As in your boogeyman tulpa?” Touron looked confused.
“He showed up when Ignus got into my head to control me and make me come to him. I couldn’t fight him off. He was burrowing deeper and deeper into my head and Derek appeared and blasted him. He saved me and told me to run.” But where had Derek gone? Guilt tightened my gut. Where could he…Wait…
I hurried to my wardrobe and pulled it open. A pocket of darkness clung to the back recess. Could it be… “Derek?”
The shadow moved, and glowing mournful eyes looked up at me. “Jrgggg ak mmmm?”
Can I stay here?
I fell to my knees, blinking back tears. “Yes, buddy. Yes, you can stay. You saved me.”
“Rggg taj dun.”
“Yeah, you always save me.” And I’d left him behind. Forgotten about him for a while. Never again. “I love you. I’m so sorry for leaving you.”
“llluuuurvve uuuug.”
“Do we get to meet him,” Touron asked.
“That’s up to Derek.”
