Destroyer (The Elemental Series #7)(30)

He drew in a big breath, held it and then slowly let it out. “I don’t know. Possibly. It’s not like there are cases where the others have been killed before, you know.”

I raised an eyebrow. “That’s not true. My mother was your sibling, and she died. Both Bramley and I lived. Perhaps that is a good sign that the bloodlines can continue on?”

He shook his head. “Your mother… she did not carry an original element like the rest of us so it’s not the same kind of comparison.”

That wasn’t exactly a comforting thought. The more I mulled it over, the more upset I became until I was pacing the room. “This is only more reason to leave. Why are we still standing here?”

“Because we can’t find them!” he roared at me. “There is no way to track them. There is no way to track Cassava!”

“You aren’t even going to try?” The horror was heavy in my voice. I didn’t understand the ability to walk away, to act as though there was nothing we could do. To give up before we’d even tried.

“And do what? Have Viv realize I am training you to take her down? Have her realize that we are after her? She has the stones, Lark. What do you think she will do to this world if she feels threatened? The curse is nearly broken. One more stone and she will be able to attack anyone.” Talan was right in front of me, his hands gripping my upper arms. “She will cause havoc and chaos out of spite. With four of the stones, she can do that and not upset the curse. As long as she isn’t actively trying to kill an elemental, she can’t be stopped.”

The intricacies of the curse were not lost on me. “I won’t just stand by and let her do this, Talan. And we don’t know she has the pink diamond.” The only stone I hadn’t carried with me.

“You can’t leave without me,” he said, his eyes flashing anger.

I leaned into him. “Then I suggest you pack, because we have to go, now!”

He let out a snarl and spun away from me. “I am trying to help you, damn it!”

“And I am trying to save your siblings!” I yelled back.

There was silence between us and I knew in my gut he wouldn’t back down. Talan believed I had to be trained or I would fail. To be fair, I understood. But he wasn’t looking at my life.

I’d never been fully trained for any of the challenges I’d faced. I’d seen them, taken what knowledge I could, and ran at them full tilt.

Looked like I was back to leaping before I looked.

I drew myself up. “Raven, do you know the way out?” I didn’t look at my brother, but kept my eyes on the elemental in front of me. Did I need his training? Probably, and even more honestly, yes. But the idea that Vivica was out there, ready to kill those we needed the most, was not an acceptable path to me.

“Yes, I can get out of here,” Raven said softly.

“Don’t you dare,” Talan snapped, and it was only then I saw the sheer weight on him. I saw the fear and the uncertainty. I saw the desire to help no matter the cost and I softened a little. I couldn’t help it.

“Talan, we can do this with you, or without you. Will you come?” I held a hand out to him, an offer of peace. An offer to keep training. “You had to know there was no way you’d be able to keep me here for long. That I’d find a way out.”

He stared at me and I stared right back. “There is always a way,” he said softly. There was no warning, there was no ability to block the power of Spirit as it cascaded over me and I swayed on my feet.

“You will stay here, and you will train,” Talan said, and I fought the desire to repeat the words back to him. They clogged my throat.

Raven grunted and there was the flutter of his black cloak beside me. “I will stay.”

Well, shit.

I knew I was stronger in Spirit than Raven.

But could I ever truly face down Talan and win?

“I will stay and train with you.” I bit the words out, one at a time as if they dropped from my lips. Peta shivered on my shoulder. “I will help her train.”

“Good,” Talan said. “I am sorry, but we have to make sure you are ready, Lark. I have worked too hard, for too long, and we have all lost too much now to race into a battle with Vivica before you are ready.”

I stood there, unable to turn away. Talan tucked his hands behind his back. “We start your training now, Lark. Raven, you will train as well because it is obvious you have forgotten your lessons with me.”

I swallowed the words that leapt up my throat. I wanted to scream at him that he was a stinking pile of shit. But my mouth wouldn’t move. I had no control over that.

My mind, though, was another thing. Carefully I sent a thought to Peta. Can you hear me?

Her green eyes flicked over me and she gave a single blink.

We will play along, I sent to her. He will make a mistake and Raven will help us.

Her eyes narrowed and while her thoughts were not actual words, I saw her concern. There was the distinct possibility that Raven would betray me yet again. But what other hope did I have than to put my trust in the brother who’d once been my favorite sibling? Nothing, I had no other hope than to believe I could outwait Talan. That he would let his guard down at some point.

The only questions were, how long would it take, and would any of the original elementals be alive when we finally escaped?