Page 77 of The Stone Initiation
Sharniza?
A shadow flew over the clearing. “Down here!”
“Looks like you have a ride. I’ll leave you in Miss Aziza’s care.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow?”
She nodded. “You will, and Cameron…You can do this. I know you can.”
She was talking about resisting the bond, and I nodded lifting my chin with a confidence that I didn’t feel.
Because being with Serath, feeling his heat, his breath, tasting his skin…those were the only things that felt right, and resisting them was going to be one of the hardest things I’d ever done.
Selas slipped into the shadows, and I stepped into the moonlight, ready to greet Sharniza.
CHAPTER33
MELANIE
The filing room usually feels safe, but not tonight. Tonight, there’s an air of danger, probably because I’m here to steal something.
Information for my new friend.
Cameron reminds me of myself in some ways. I was curious and stubborn once. I used to have goals, and I would have gone to the ends of the earth to protect my loved ones.
What happened to that person?
What happened to me?
There are holes in my memory. So many holes that sometimes I feel as if I’ll fade away, but then someone like Cameron comes along. Someone who sees me and for a little while I have an anchor and a purpose.
Like tonight.
I rifle through the cabinets. Each one is locked, but I have all the passcodes. They never change them. It’s only the door access that is ever updated.
I used to have access once.
But now I can simply pass through it. Wait…The filing order has been updated. They usually have everything in alphabetical order using surname, but it isn’t like that any longer.
Everything is numerical now.
How can I find Romi’s file?
Think. There must be a key somewhere. There’s something about the numbers. Oh…they’re cadet IDs. There’s a book for that.
I find the folder with the IDs on top of one of the cabinets and scroll down the names to Basque. The ID is six digits. I memorize it and head back to the cabinets. It doesn’t take me long to find the file. I draw it out. It’s thick. Filled with mission reports. Excitement bubbles inside me because I’m about to find the information that Cameron needs. I can help her.
I flip open the file to the end, to the last report. Wait…This can’t be right. How can…Oh god…
“Hello Melanie.”
I turn sharply, file clutched tightly in my hand.
Cold golden eyes bore into me. “What have you got there? Hmmm?”
CHAPTER34
CAMERON
