Daylight, a Timeless Series Novel (35 page)

He
turned to jump us to shore, wanting to tell the others, but I shook my head.

“Wait.” I took off a glove and pulled one of the bracelets from my pocket. “Help me lift a rock.”

His brow furrowed.

“I want to leave Colt a clue that we were here, in case something happens.”

Daniel nodded. I bent down, placing the stone bracelet under one of the large rocks. Satisfied, he jumped us back to the shore.

“What’d you see?” Koda asked
. The others gathered around, eager to hear.

“Colt gave us a clue.
He spelled ‘
come’
with rocks, like he said in his note.” I pointed to the falls, to the rock shelf where Daniel and I had just come from. “He’s been here. And he’s still close by. I can feel it.”

“Spread out then,” Koda ordered. “Callon, Nakari, head north. Maes, Andre, you take south. Daniel, Clayton and Cheyenne
, head west, and Brogan and I will head east.”

Daniel, Clayton and I began heading west when Koda called out again.

“I want us all back here within the next two hours, no later.”

We
dispersed into the woods. We didn’t want to miss any clues that might be lying on the forest floor.

Daniel jumped ahead
, while Clayton and I kept our eyes out. A broken branch, or rocks in a grouping…Colt could have placed anything for us to find.

Time ticked by, and still nothing appeared.
I had no idea how much ground we’d covered, but soon we would have to go back. Clayton glanced at me nervously. He knew too, but didn’t want to say it.

Suddenly, I caught the smell of
burning wood. I stopped, trying to locate the source. At the same moment, Daniel reappeared.

“Do you smell that?”
I asked. Clayton sniffed, and shrugged.

“
Smells like a campfire,” he replied.

Daniel
nodded, then pushed us behind a large tree trunk.

“Stay here,
” he instructed. “Let me check it out first.”

I tried to reach for his arm, but he disappeared before I made contact. I wanted to go with him. Clayton held onto my elbow.

“Don’t,” he whispered. “Daniel will come back for us. We don’t know what might be waiting out there.”

As much as I wanted to yank myself fr
ee, I knew I needed to listen. We needed to work together.

Daniel reappeared.

“It’s a Tracker party…” he hesitated. “Colt’s with them.”

My
heart raced, Colt was so close! I took a step forward, but Clayton pulled me back.

“Wait, we need to get the others,” he
said. I looked to Daniel, pleading.

“Can’t you just tell Callon?”

Daniel shook his head.

“We’re too far,” he said. “It won’t take long to head back. The three of us aren’t enough to get Colt out, anyway. We can’t ruin our only chance.”

“But if we take too long, they’ll get away!” I protested. “We can take them…”

Daniel
sighed and grabbed my hand.

“If I show you, will that be enough?”

I swallowed. “Well…”

“I won’t take you if you can’t promise to stay hidden.”

I sighed. He was right. I had to keep my head.

“
Alright.”

H
e jumped through the forest, Clayton running behind us. Within moments, we were perched behind some trees. I peered around the corner, and my heart leapt in my chest. Colt was sitting on a tree stump. He was wearing the same shirt I’d seen in the vision, and thick chains were wrapped around his arms. Tears of both relief and love escaped my eyes. He was alive!

“
I think those chains are enchanted,” Daniel whispered. “He’d have broken free otherwise.”

My hands began shaking. We were so close.

Daniel grabbed my shoulders, forcing me to look into his worried blue eyes.

“I don’t think I can jump him out of here. If
the chains are magic, chances are it’ll prevent me from jumping with him. They’ll block our powers.”

“Then how
do we get him out?”

“We
don’t!” Daniel hissed. “We need Callon and the others.”

“But…”

“You promised, Cheyenne!”

I shook my head.

“I’m not going to abandon him like I did at the ravine,” I said. “Besides, what if the Trackers find Clayton’s tracks? They’ll run out of here before we can catch up again. We’ve got to do this now. If you can distract the Trackers, I can get to Colt.” I flexed my fingers. “I should be able to break his chains with my powers. Then, with him on our side, the Trackers won’t stand a chance.”

Clayton looked torn.

“It could work,” he said, “but I don’t want to risk anything. If they capture you instead, Cheyenne, they won’t care about Colt or any of us. They’ll drag you straight to Marcus.”

I clenched my fists. I knew I’d be putting myself in danger, but it was no less than Colt had done for me.
If only I could convince them…

A shout from the trees
on the opposite side of the clearing made me jump. Soon a pair of Trackers appeared, muttering to each other. They must have been on patrol. One pointed towards us, and I gulped.

“We’re going, now.” Daniel gripped my arm and we disappeared. Clayton made to follow, but unfortunately he stepped on a twig, and a loud snap echoed. The Trackers yelled, running towards the
sound.

“No!” I fought to shake Daniel off. “They’ll get Clayton
. We have to go back!”

“You’re more important!” Daniel shot back.

“But if they catch him, they’ll send out a party to search for the others,” I said. “Leave me behind Colt in the trees. They won’t think to look for me so closely. When you’ve got Clayton out, come back for me.”

“Chey…”

“Please, Daniel!”

Daniel sighed. I
knew he really didn’t want to follow my plan, but eventually we jumped again. I blinked; we were behind the trees surrounding Colt. His broad back filled my vision. Before I could whisper my thanks, Daniel was gone. I prayed he would get to Clayton before the Trackers spotted him.

Colt shift
ed a little. Had he heard us?

“Hey!”
one of the Trackers shouted. The clang of metal falling to the ground shortly followed.

“Watch him!” another yelled
, and footsteps pounded in the forest.

I rounded the tree
, and stopped. A scraggly looking Tracker eyed me nervously; he’d been hidden by Colt’s frame, and I hadn’t seen him. I wasn’t afraid. I spread my arms out, summoning the wind, and the Tracker turned tail and ran. It was a far cry from the men who’d kept me under guard when I was with Marcus…

“Cheyenne?” Colt
murmured weakly.

I twisted on my heels
, and my breath caught. Colt had stood up. His shirt was caked with mud, his cheeks dirty and sunken, and a hollowness echoed in his icy blue eyes. Still, I caught the flicker of hope within them as well. He’d been waiting for me!

I threw myself into his arms, his chains rattl
ing in protest.

“You’re here,” I breathed, his
heartbeat echoing in my ear. “You’re really here!”

“
Oh, Cheyenne,” Colt whispered, smiling. “I knew you’d come for me!”

Chapter 18

“You’re alive,” I whispered. His warmth beneath my cheek, his strong arms around me…he was right here with me. “I knew it. I felt it in my heart.” I inhaled. He smelled of pine, dirt and sweat. Eventually he pushed me back, and his shoulders sagged.

“Did you come alone?” Colt asked.

I shook my head, suddenly reminded about Clayton and Daniel.

“No, and we
don’t have much time,” I said. “We need to go now.”

“Yeah.” Colt stretched his arms, causing the chains to jingle. They’d cut into his wrists, leaving blackened scars caked with grime.

“Let me get those off first,” I said. “They’ll slow you down.”

“Good luck,” Colt snorted. “They’re enchanted. They’ve been draining my strength since Marcus forced them on me.”

“
I’ll fix that. Hold out your arms.”

Colt obeyed.
I grasped each shackle. They felt normal enough. I closed my eyes, focusing my power to the palms of my hands. The chains began to rattle, and grew warm beneath my hand. Suddenly a tingling sensation ran up my arms and into my shoulders, and I couldn’t let go. Snarling, Colt shoved me away.

“Don’t!” he
snapped.

“Why?”

“The magic trailed up your arms. It’ll weaken you like it has me.”

“But we have to get them off
…”

Loud howls bounced off the trees. I froze. I knew those howls
…Tresezes!

“Over here!” A deep voice rumbled.

Trackers too!

“
Forget the chains. Run!” Colt shouted.

He pushed me in front of him
, and we sprinted through the forest towards the falls. Pine needles brushed my jacket and cheeks as we wove through them. I glanced up. It wouldn’t be long till nightfall. My thoughts turned to Daniel. He must’ve told Callon by now. I could only hope the Tracker patrol here wouldn’t find the others too quickly. Otherwise…

Colt stumbled, his foot catching on a tree
root. I held out my arm to help catch him, but we both collided with the hard soil. Any air in my lungs escaped me as Colt landed on top of me. I winced.

Colt didn’t move quickly. I wiggled my way out from beneath him and helped him to his feet. H
e shook his head slowly. His footing was unsteady. My heart ached seeing him like this; this was not the strong Colt who’d carried me across the ravine. How much damage had these chains done to him?

The thundering footsteps were getting closer, and the panting breaths of the Tresezes weren’t far behind.
I shivered as I remember their awful scent…dead rotting flesh. There were more than we’d anticipated. They must have been hiding.

Run!
A familiar voice screamed in my head.
Run towards the falls!

My eyes widened.
There was no question now. It
was
Maes! Somehow he was able to speak to me through my thoughts. I’d have to figure out how later. Right now I just needed to listen.

I yanked harder on Colt’s chains and glanced back
at him. He was breathing heavily, his face pale and his pace becoming more and more unsteady. He must have hurt his leg. Please, Colt, we just had to make it a little farther!

Suddenly
Koda appeared. He shoved his shoulder under Colt’s arm and pushed him along.

“I’ve got him!” Koda barked. “Get to Brogan now!”

I nodded, running faster. Brogan came into view, just at the bottom of the small ravine. He pushed me behind him, pressing me against a boulder. Colt and Koda landed safely behind us, hidden from sight as well. Brogan’s back tensed. The Trackers had paused at the top of the ravine.

“This way!” one shouted
. Their footsteps soon faded.

I stared at Colt. He lay on his side on the cold
, hard ground, his chest heaving. Koda held onto his shoulder, his eyes filled with worry as he stared at the chains.

“Did you try and remove the
chains?” Koda asked.

“I can’t.
Colt said they’d drain me of my powers.”

“Maes may know
a way,” Brogan said. “Let’s get him to the falls.”

Both Brogan and Koda helped Colt to his feet.
I was surprised Brogan wasn’t angry that I’d rescued Colt alone, but maybe he was saving the lecture for later. First we had to get Colt free.

We
set out quickly, checking the shrubs and trees for hidden movement. We wouldn’t have much time before the Tresezes picked up our trail. I kept my hand around Colt’s, squeezing gently.

Soon the roar of
rushing water caught my ears. We were back. Callon and the others were sitting by the pool, looking tense. The second Callon saw us, he shot to his feet and bolted to Colt’s side.

Koda and Brogan eased
Colt to the ground, and he sat against a boulder. I kneeled beside him, still holding his hand. Daniel appeared beside me and didn’t hesitate to wrap Colt in a hug.

“Chey and I knew we’d find you, Colt. We knew it
!” His voice shook.

Colt didn’t reply, his head hung between his knees. He was still trying to catch his breath.
What had become of him? Would he ever get his strength back?

“Can we do anything for him, Callon?” I
pleaded. “Can you give him something, anything, so he’s not so weak?”

“There’s nothing we can do,” Maes said. He stood to the side of Brogan and Koda, studying Colt. “At least not here, not now.”

“We can’t stay here,” Brogan said. “We have to get moving.”

He
went with Koda and the others to prepare the horses.

“Help get him up,” Callon said.

I leaned forward and pushed up under Colt’s arm while Daniel and Callon pulled him to his feet.

“Stay here, Cheyenne,” Callon ordered. “I
can at least patch him up a bit before we go.” He nodded to Daniel, and they headed over to Bo.

I ran my thumb over the back of Colt’s hand.

“We’ll bring you home,” I said. “Then you can forget about this nightmare.”

Colt’s head slowly rose
. He looked at me, a new brightness in his icy blue eyes. A smirk perched at the corner of his lips.

“
Interesting choice of words, sweetheart.” His voice was low, gravelly. “But there’s something I have to tell you, first.” He pulled his arms taught and then slammed his wrists together. The chains clanked, and he caught them in his fist. I stood unmoving, my gaze locked on his face. “Is this my nightmare, or yours?” The sunken patches under his eyes filled in, the dirt on his clothes and cheeks disappeared. He rose up taller, the muscles bulging beneath his tight shirt.

“Colt…” I
could barely speak, unsure what was happening. Why was he looking at me like that?

“I just needed you
to come to me, and you did, like always. You’re so…
predictable.
”

He lunged forward, the chains wrapping around my waist
and pinning my arms down. My skin tingled, and my head instantly throbbed. The chains began to illuminate a bluish hue…they were draining me of my powers!

“No!” I screamed.

He crushed me to his chest, my feet leaving the ground.

“No, Colt!” Callon bellowed and rushed forward, but
he abruptly stopped as Colt tightened the chains around me. Daniel yelled, jumping to my side, but Colt smacked him away like a mere fly.

“Colt, stop it!” I cried. “He’s your brother!”

In seconds, everyone was back. Brogan, Koda and Maes surrounded us. Clayton, Andre and Nakari made a second circle.

“Colt,
what the hell do you think you’re doing?” Callon growled. I caught a flicker of despair in his hazel eyes.

I moaned
. It felt like the very life within me was being drained away. Tears pricked the corner of my eyes. Why was Colt doing this?

“
Let go of Cheyenne,” Callon said. “Marcus must still have a hold on you. You don’t want to hurt her.”

“No, Callon, no one has a hold on me. Not Marcus, not you, not our father. I’m free for once in my life
, and I’m doing exactly what I want.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about
!” Daniel pleaded, wiping the bleeding cut on his face. “You’re hurting Cheyenne!”

“She’ll be fine.” His cheek pressed against mine
, and he raked his fingertips through my hair. “She’ll be treated better with Marcus than with any of you.”

“He’ll drain her of her powers and kill her!” Brogan growled.
“You’ve really overstepped the lines, Colt. You’re making yourself our enemy!”

“Ha
, like your empty threats mean anything!” Colt shot back. “You’ve been fighting a losing battle for years. Now I’ve finally seen the light. Marcus has shown me the truth, and Cheyenne deserves to know as well!”

“The only truth Marcus knows is his greed and lust for power!” Callon shouted. I’d never seen him so angry. “Let her go, Colt. I won’t ask you again.”

Colt chuckled. “And still you keep feeding her with your lies,” he said.

“What are you talking about
?” Callon’s eyes were livid.

“You know what I’m talking about. All the half-truths
, all the history you’ve deliberately hidden from her since the start. All so you can control her, so you can take her powers just like you claim Marcus wants!” He turned my head towards Nakari. “Callon never told you about Nakari, did he?”

Nakari’s eyes grew wide.

“Colt…” Callon warned.

“You didn’t bother to inform poor Cheyenne that you were engaged to
Nakari, did you, brother?”

Nakari’s lower lip began to shake,
as her green eyes locked on me. I could only stare back, shocked. I knew they’d been close in the past, but…Callon had been
engaged
to her? Is that why Nakari was so wary around me? Had she feared what I’d do if I ever found out? I’d already admitted to her once that I’d wanted to harm her.

The chains grew tighter
, and my body grew weaker. I couldn’t even speak.

“What pathetic excuse will you give her, Callon?” Colt jeered.

Callon clenched his fists. His hazel eyes looked to me, filled with sadness, but also defiance.

“
I didn’t tell you, Cheyenne, because I knew how you’d react. I knew you’d take it the wrong way, and you were struggling with your grief. I didn’t need to make it worse.” Callon’s eyes narrowed. “The past is the past. It can’t be changed or denied. Our future is what matters.”

Koda
snarled; he’d heard enough. Without warning, he charged, his hand coming around my arm, but Colt jerked me sideways and slammed his elbow into Koda’s chest. Koda groaned, stumbling back.

“
Marcus has brainwashed him well,” Koda spat as he regained his balance.

“No
,” Andre spoke up. Callon looked to her.

“What?”

“He’s not under Marcus’s control,” Andre said, averting her gaze. She didn’t want to believe her own words. “He’s doing this on his own.”

She knows, Cheyenne,
Maes’s voice rumbled in my head.
She can sense when others tell the truth
.

No…this couldn’t be…it couldn’t be!

“No,” I sobbed. “Colt, no!”

Dark forms moved in the shadows
, and low growls erupted. Colt had laid a trap. He stepped back with me still pressed to his chest. The rescue party that had come to save Colt had fallen apart within mere minutes. They stood stunned, speechless as the Trackers and Tresez moved in.

“Colt, please,” I begged. “Don’t do this
!”

“You’ll thank me later.” He turned
, and we headed back towards the ravine.

“This is your family,” I murmured
. “We love you.”

“You know nothing of love, child.”

His words cut deep. What had Marcus done to him? Marcus had him believing in his own lies to the point it was now the truth for him. How could I help him see…

“Kiss me,” I whispered. “Kiss me and tell me you don’t know what love is, that I don’t know what love i
s.”

He stopped. The muscles in his arms tensed
, and he turned me around so I was facing him. His thumb ran over my lower lip as hard eyes stared at me. He leaned in closer, and my eyes fell shut. He was close enough that I could feel his breath on my cheek, and my heart began to race.
Just a kiss, Colt, just a kiss…

His warm lips touched the corner of my mouth.

“The thing is, Cheyenne,” he murmured, “kissing you will change nothing.”