Image (Insight #3)(67)

I felt August, Nyla, Beth, and Marc approaching from the other direction. My insides started to tie themselves in knots, and adrenaline rushed through my veins. Landen walked around the table and reached for my hand, and I felt his calm as he pulled me up and led me to the couch that faced the fireplace.

“He’s not with them,” he thought. With his thoughts and his emotion of calm, the knots started to unwind, and a numb feeling came in the wake of the adrenaline.

“I don’t think I can talk to him; I won’t be able to control my anger – I’ll only make it worse,” I said, leaning forward and letting my head rest on my knees.

I felt Landen gently run his hand across my back and Clarissa take a seat next to me. Olivia sat on the table in front of me. “I don’t want you to hide anything from him; anger, fear – he has the same emotions, and the two of you are going to have to face them.”

As the dread built in me, I turned my head from side to side. I knew that if I were to release any kind of emotion, Landen would feel it. I was struggling to protect him from any doubt that I loved him; I just wanted to hide. Brady’s idea of a deserted island was sounding better and better as the seconds crept by.

“There’s nothing you’ll feel that will make me doubt what we have; we are not running,” Landen thought.

I looked up at him to find him smiling at me. “I promise,” he whispered.

I leaned into him and took a deep breath. August and Nyla appeared first in the doorway, and Beth and Marc were behind them; they had so many emotions running through them, it was hard for me to judge them. Marc and August looked curiously at Olivia, and Nyla and Beth just smiled. I knew then that they were more than aware that Olivia had found a way to see in the string, a way to travel.

“Did something happen?” Landen asked August.

“Drake had a meeting with his court, so we had to leave,” August said as he took a seat on the couch next to ours. Nyla sat down next to him. Beth came to Olivia’s side and let her arm drape around her. I watched as Beth whispered something to Olivia; I couldn’t hear her words, but I knew they filled Olivia with pride.

Marc let his hands rest on his hips, then raised his eyebrows. “I knew Chrispin was hiding something from me,” he said, looking between Olivia and Beth.

“He wasn’t hiding anything; he wanted to tell you, but you’ve been distant,” Olivia said.

A guilt came over Marc and Landen; the last thing they intended to do was push anyone away. Landen looked over his shoulder at Brady, then to Olivia. “I won’t leave them behind again - I promise,” he said.

Marc nodded in agreement. “Does he know you’re here? Should I go and tell him?” he asked.

“He’ll be here soon,” Olivia said, turning to smile at me. Clarissa shook her head from side to side and she couldn’t hide the betrayal she was feeling. Olivia and Clarissa had grown close over the last few months, and now they couldn’t feel more distant.

“Where is he?” Landen asked.

“He led Preston home,” August answered, leaning forward and burying his head in his hands.

“You’re concerned...did the court see you?” Landen asked.

August leaned back, shaking his head slowly from side to side. He then sighed and stared into space. “He’s in a dark place. The only one on his side for sure is Alamos,” he answered. His eyes then moved quickly to Landen. “He’s on his side. You can feel he wants to help him, right?” he asked, looking for validation.

“He loves him as if he were his son; he won’t betray him,” Landen answered, confident in his words.

August sighed and extended his arm around Nyla.

“How was it having all of them in the same room?” Landen asked, nodding his head in Marc’s direction.

Marc looked down and walked to the table with the others. August smiled as he watched Marc walk away.

“Tense at first, but Preston eased it over, and they were all civil,” August answered.

I felt an overwhelming pride coursing through Beth. I could feel Chrispin approaching, and I looked over my shoulder; a second later, he appeared in the doorway. He looked at Marc and Brady and smiled boyishly. His eyes then found Olivia, and he walked quickly to sit by her side. He wrapped his arm around her and smiled at me.

“Is she not the most amazing woman you’ve ever met?” he asked Beth.

Beth smiled and nodded. “One of four, hopefully,” she said under her breath. Remorse began to seep into her; I knew her thoughts were with Drake at that time.

Clarissa’s body tensed next to mine, and a jealously raced through her. Perodine slowly walked to the couch next to ours, then leaned against the edge and stared curiously at Olivia.

“How did you get here so quickly?” Landen asked, grinning proudly at Chrispin.

“Rose and Libby were at the gate. Preston had that look in his eye; you know the one: like something life-changing is about to happen,” Chrispin said, raising his eyebrows.

Landen’s smile fell, and the room filled with a sense of dread. Perodine stood up straight, then looked at Dane and Olivia.

“You’re a Cancer,” Perodine said to Olivia. Olivia smiled and bowed her head. “Have you always had a sense of optimism - even in the darkest hour?” Perodine asked.

Olivia looked at me, and I nodded. In my opinion, she had too many dark hours. When we were only children, she lost both of her parents – but even though grief consumed her, she still found a way to smile, and to make me smile.