Vindicate (Insight #5)(85)

“I don’t know what to think , o r what I would do if I were you. I’m not even sure I want him to be king. I just know I don’t want to lose him. I don’t want someone to take Alamos or Perodine’s life b efore they are ready to give it. I want peace, and that road is long and complicated.”

“Does he want to be king?” she asked me.

“I think so. I think he loves his people. That he wants to rule a golden age for them.”

“How badly does he want that?” she asked, tilting her head and gazing at me.

“I’m not sure, Beth. He was exhausted and hungry last I saw him. Why do you ask? I s there a price I need to know about? Do you have conditions that need to be met?”

“I do,” she said as she glanced at the altar. “My son is asking me to swear before men who are nothing but pure evil that he is not mine. That the love I had for Livingston. The love we had for each other di d not bring him into this world. He is asking that his heritage to Chara be erased. I lov e him enough to give him that. I love him enough to lie. To make a promise that will only matter in this life and not when I face my creator…but I do have a condition.”

“I’m listening.” I muttered humbly.

She moved her eyes from the altar to me. “He’s going to have to get his father’s blessing…if Livingston tel ls me he is at peace with this I will vow that I was no thing more than a host for him -- the only breathing heir of Donalt.”

I let my shoulders fall, along with all of my hope.

“I guess he doesn’t want to be king that bad,” Beth said, noticing my expression.

“I’m sure he does, Beth, but to see his dad, he has to come terms w ith the fact that he killed him. He may be strong, but I don’t think he’s that strong. He’s been through too much.”

“Like I said before …you’re the only one he listens to.”

“Right,” I mumbled. “And I am going to take one victory at a time.” I stood and reached for her hand. “Come, all of your sons are g oing to be in Chara at one time. You don’t want to miss that.”

She bowed her head to me gracefully, then stood at my side. Marc was waiting for us. As Beth passed him, I shook my head no, and he nodded once. It was hard for me to tell w here he stood with all of this. I f he even knew what we were asking Beth to do.

At the passage, Landen was waiting with Draven, Aden, Madison, and Charlie. Beth captured Madison ’s gaze and bowed, then looked up at Marc. “I want to change before we go home.”

“I’ll bring Stella, Mom, and Drake ,” Marc said calmly.

I found myself staring at Madison every ti me Drake’s name was mentioned. She was getting better at hiding her anxiety, but I could still see it. I wondered if Drake had approached her since we’d been back , the troubled emotions of Charlie led me to believe that he had. I wonder how well that went. No. No I didn’t it was none of business.

I handed the cloak I was wearing to Marc just before they walked away.

Landen glanced at the others. “Can I assume that you can see in the string? I believe Austin mentioned that to me.”

“Seeing is a blessing and a curse for us,” Aden answered for all of them.

“Tell me about it,” Landen said, reaching for my hand. We stood in the glow and waited for them all to en ter. “Just stay in the center. Storms are hard to predict.”

I was going to let Landen lead and stay in the back with Madison. He felt my intent to do that and started a conversation with Draven about music. Before I could open a conversation, something distracted me. Dane and Clarissa. I could feel them. A t least I thought I did, and they were not alone.





Chapter Seventeen


I stopped in place, as my ey es grew wide. I was so confused. I t was them, no doubt, but at the same time there was something missing. I couldn’t put my finger on it. I thought maybe it was just the othe r person I could feel with them. A person that should not be with them . Winston. What was tha t boy doing with them ? Why did I feel their anger? Their determination to place Winston in our custody ? Why I did feel Winston’s disdain for that act?

“Are you alright?” Madison asked me.

“No,” I said, looking behind me. “Landen.”

He already sensed the emotions, too, and was walking to my side. The others looked at us like we were in sane, and their anxiety built. They must have noticed how confused we were. A moment later, three images appeared. Winston was in the center of Cl arissa and Dane. They were both holding his arm like he was some kind of prisoner.

“What the hell?” Draven said as he pulled his shoulders back.

“Thinking the same thing,” I mumbled.

“What do we have here?” Landen asked Dane.

“You look better,” Dane said, smiling slightly.

“Just y our everyday brush with death. No big deal,” Landen said in a dense tone.

I noticed immediately that Dane and Clari ssa broke eye contact with us. I felt how nervous they were and how they were trying to hide that.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“We found your little friend. Looks like he lost his way,” Dane said, looking at Landen, not me.

“Whatever, man,” Winston said, rolling his eyes, pulling free from them, and walking to Aden. When he got there, he received a slap on the back of the head from Aden.