Page 84 of The Study of Magic
“Promise?”
Ari turned to Trevar. “Walk us through what you found.”
Trevar led them to the trail. “We lost him here. No signs of him in the forest inanydirection.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course. We. Checked.Every.Direction.”
Maren grabbed Janco around the waist, stopping him from punching Trevar. Valek would be amused but his muscles were cramping, and his bladder was about to burst.
“Even up? That’s a direction,” Ari said mildly.
Four faces peered up. All Valek could do was lift his eyebrows when they spotted him. Four groans sounded in unison.
“Janco.”
“On it.” He climbed up and removed Valek’s gag. Then cut the vines around his body. “You, okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“Need help getting down?”
Probably, but Valek didn’t want the young pups to feel worse than they did for failing to protect him. “No, thank you.” Even though his muscles shook, and the lack of food and water made him lightheaded, Valek finally reached the ground.
He saw to his immediate needs and then gathered everyone around. “I think the biggest lesson of yesterday’s exercise was to not forget to look up. I hide in the ceilings all the time because no one looks up. As agents, you need to think through all the possibilities.”
“Yes, sir,” they said.
Trevar hung his head and wouldn’t meet Valek’s gaze.
“All right, what else did you learn?”
They listed their errors. At least they recognized them. Ari added a few more to their list. When they were done, Valek grabbed his pack and led the two teams east to another tent a couple miles away.
“This is a new exercise area. The boundaries are marked with red ribbons. Again, no one is allowed outside the zone. Kidnappers give the protection team at least an hour to prepare.”
Valek crawled into the tent. This one was his and not nearly as nice as the Commander’s. He downed a water skin and ate a couple sticks of jerky. Then pushed up the sleeves of his uniform and inspected his arms. Raw abrasions stripped his skin. That had been quite the nightmare last night. He smoothed the material out and laid down on his bedroll.
Thoughts about Yelena swirled in his mind. Where was she? What was she doing? Was she safe? He remembered their last night together. His body ached for her touch. All he wanted right now was to hold her again. And just like that, she was there in his heart. Yet, he saw her sitting in bed. Her brow was creased in concern as she stared at him.
You need help, love?he asked.
I need you. I need love. I need energy. I need you.
I can’t come.It hurt to say those words.You already have my love. But I can give you my strength.
No! You’ll be helpless for days!
Had they shared the nightmare from last night? At least she wasn’t injured. Just exhausted.I’ll be fine. The power twins are with me. They’ll protect me.He peeked out the tent and, sure enough, they both stood nearby.
Good luck, love.Valek poured all his energy into his heart and pushed it toward her. There was a resistance, like he was trying to move a big boulder. Doubling his effort, he tried again, and it flowed from him and filled her heart. She smiled as the tired lines around her green eyes disappeared. Knowing that he’d helped rejuvenate her, Valek relaxed. Darkness rushed in.
CHAPTER13
His eyelids were parted, allowing bright light to stab into his brain.
Medic Channa peered at him. “Ah, there you are.” Then she checked his other eye. “I don’t think it’s due to the concussion.”
