Vindicate (Insight #5)(68)

“Let’s have a talk, shall we?” I said, appreciating their discreteness.

Draven reached for my arm, then leaned into me; against my ear, I felt his warm breath. “Remember what we talked about. The word you need.” I felt a warm chill move down my spine as his hypnotic voice eased into my thoughts.

“I remember,” I whispered as I looked into his green eyes, laced in black.

I felt the stares of others and looked past him to see the images of Drake and Landen gla ring in our direction. I let out a sigh , and with a thought I was standing between them.

“Now what are we fighting about?” I asked as I crossed my arms and looked between the images of the men I was searching for.

Their stares moved to my side. The others had followed me, and Draven had stolen their attention.

“Apparentl y, it’s a fight with no merit. You have replace d us,” Drake’s image seethed .

Then he and the image of Landen charged toward Draven. Brady pulled Draven behind him as I stood between them a ll. I reached for Drake’s face. He refused to look at me. A nger was engulfing his dark eyes.

“Call me by my name,” I whispered to him.

His stare with Draven broke, and he looked down at me.

“Willow,” he said in a familiar, addicting tone.

I ti lted my head and smiled sardonically . “Wrong,” and with that, he was gone.

I looked to the image of Landen. He’d stopped his advance on Draven and was gazing at me. He reached his arm around my waist and pulled me to his strong body. With his touch, the world around me changed.

I was standing on my front porch in Chara. The sun was shining , bir ds were flying through the air, but the world was silent. We were in the dream where he first kissed me.

“Is this what you want?” he asked. “Did you need me to stand here with you ? Why would you want to remember something that will never happen agai n? Go back to where I found you. Looks like you have a few new friends from there,” he seethed as he looked past me.

Draven and Brady were walking up the steps; Olivia had appeared at our side.

I reached my hand for his chest and slowly moved it up to his beautiful face. “Tell me. What is the foundation of this place? What words are sacred here?”

With those words, he vanished.

Draven leaned against the railing and looked around at my home. “Nice.”

My eyes moved out to the field . To the peace Chara had. I wanted to go home. I was sick of playing games.

“Is it just me, or is she doing everything in her power to keep us away from the Estate?” I asked.

“I was starting to think I was the only one picking up on that,” Brady said as he looked in the direction of where his home would be if this place were real.

“Let’s end this,” I said, reaching for his arm .

Instantly, my porch vanished and we were in the lobby of the Estate. I was almost certain I could feel the real Landen. That I could reme mber what floor Drake’s chamber was on.

I started to walk up the elegant , wide stairs. An image of Drake leaning against Bianca, kissing her neck passionately, appeared a few steps up. I walked past it without any emotion. Once I was a step above them, I hesitated and looked back at Bianca. “No wonder you have to steal men. You’re really bad at this passion thing,” I said smugly.

Laughter erupted from Draven as the image of Drake vanished and Bianca glared at me. I winked at her and continued my climb. The stairs broke into a large landing where two more staircas es appeared, one to the left and one to the right. I felt Landen to the left and went that way. At the top of those stairs, I was sure I was on the right floor.

Bianca appeared again, this time with an image of Landen. Apparently, she was trying to prove me wrong. This time her display – the image’s display, were ones that should never be viewed through an open door. I shook my head in disgust, trying to hold my anger in . I was over her. Beyond over her. Thunder rattled the Estate in reflection of that emotion, which made Bianca giggle seductively.

I gritted my teeth and passed her by, knowing that I could feel the real Landen just ahead. A few doors down, I thought I felt Charlie. Aden. I knew they were close. I opened the next door, feeling Landen there.

What I saw was horrific. The walls of the room were ripped away, and the floor was covered with broken glass and furniture . Landen’s body was lying across the floor, and Drake’s was leaning against the wall. Charlie and Madison were there, screaming his name.

Charlie looked up at me. “I can’t wake him ! Do something ! Give him everything ! Quick!” she yelled.

I hesitated. I didn’t understand. I didn’t understand why I co uld feel Aden but not see him. Why Charlie would want me to give everything to Drake first, knowing he would drain me without even trying. Something was off. I looked to my side at Draven; his eyes were furrowed as he stared at Charlie.

“Draven, help me!” she screamed. “Tell her to help!”

I glanced at her wrist. It was bare. No tattoo. With one thought, I flung Charlie’s image against the wall. Draven rushed to her side and pushed the sleeves of her hoodie up further ensuring himself that she was an image. When he saw her bare wrist, she vanished; so did the image of Madison.

“They’re here,” I heard Aden say and turned to see him, Charlie and Madison at Landen’s side.

Instinctively, I took at step toward them, but Brady held me back. “Take of f your ho o ddies,” he demanded .