Page 75 of The Stone Survival
“Surely they would have considered we might try that,” Shar said.
“Of course they would have,” Orix replied. “Which is why we’ll be split into two teams,” he went on. “An infiltration team and a decoy team.”
Serath smiled thinly. “Exactly.”
The two males shared a look that spoke of kinship that came from working together for a long time.
“It’s what Selas would suggest,” Orix said to the rest of us.
“Why not ask Ivor and his graynites to come with us?” Curi said, then he shook his head. “Too conspicuous. Best for us to nab a faction member and get the location of their main base before we call in the big guns.”
“I’ll go and see Ivor now,” Derek said.
“What do we tell the others?” Levi asked.
Serath answered. “If the place is bugged, then they’d have heard us speculating that it’s bugged, so the best course of action is to say nothing. They’ll expect us to be silent and cagey. But I’ll make a note to pass to the others, letting them know what we’re up to.”
I couldn’t imagine Touron and the twins sitting back and doing nothing. “They’ll insist on being a part of it.”
“I know, but this is a guardian and elite level job,” Orix said. “They’ll have to accept that.”
“Then it’s settled,” Serath said. “Tomorrow, we go into the lion’s den.”
We waitedin the forest for Derek to deliver the message to Ivor and return. He was gone less than ten minutes. Sharniza released a relieved breath when he materialized. Was she still afraid that he’d be pulled back to the wilds despite their bond?
“You spoke to Ivor?” Serath asked Derek.
“Yes. He said to bring the traitors to these coordinates, and his graynites would take them back to their base for interrogation.” He handed Orix a piece of paper.
“Yes, that’s a good idea. We can’t trust the council to hold them.”
“Melanie is with Ivor,” Derek said to me. “She wanted you to know that she has stored energy to help us in our battle against the faction.”
My mother was with Ivor? They were finally together. It warmed my heart to know it, and I wished I could be with them too.
Soon. Once this was all over. Once we were all safe. “Thanks, Derek. We should get back to the tower and get some rest. We’re going to need it.”
We left as we’d come, making sure to leave a few minutes between each group.
“We’ll be all right,” Serath said as we exited the forest. “I won’t let any harm come to you.”
“And I won’t let any harm come to you.”
He put his arm around my shoulder and tucked me against his side. “How tired are you?”
I smiled coyly. “Never too tired.”
Our desire sated,we pulled on PJs and made sure not to sleep entwined. It wasn’t fair to Ubron to wake up pressed to me, but it was surprisingly hard to fall asleep without Serath playing big spoon. Considering we’d only been sleeping together for a few days, it was strange how attuned my body had become to his.
He fell asleep first, a deliberate plan to allow me a chance to clue Ubron in. We’d written a note for him filling him in on everything.”
Luckily, he surfaced quickly.
There was no denying the tug in my solar plexus when he fixed his gaze on me.
“Cameron, what is happening? I heard pieces of conversation and felt Serath’s distress.”
I propped myself on my elbow and pressed a finger to my lips before handing him the note. He read it quickly and then got out of bed. “I can’t sleep. I’m going to get some air.” He gave me a pointed look and then left the room.
