Daylight, a Timeless Series Novel (8 page)

I tilted my head. “They drive you crazy?”

“Hell
, yes! Especially Koda and all his stupid jokes. Just you wait till he turns his attention on you.”

“Oh great…” My thumb began to run over my Servak ring.
Just what I needed, for Koda to act like Colt and tease me.

“I’ll try and keep him away as long as I can, but he’ll pester you mostly because he likes you. He couldn’t stop talking about you
.”

My eyes narrowed. “He was talking about me?”

Andre raised a dark brow. “Yeah, even with what happened, he could see how great your powers are going to be. He said once you can control them, you’ll be an unstoppable force.”

“Right,
” I mumbled. “I’m nothing but a child who can’t do anything right.”

She shook her head.

“He didn’t mean it like that, Cheyenne.”

“No one ever does.” I grasped my Servak ring. I’d made too many mistakes that day and the days leading up to it
, and now everyone here was going to rub my face in it.

Andre rose. “I’m going for a swim
. Want to come?”

“I don’t have a swimsuit on.”

“Neither do I.” She smirked, stripping off her clothes. “Underwear works.” She ran past me and dove into the water, gasping as she came up. “Holy crap, it’s cold!”

I couldn’t help but smile. I rose and neared the water’s edge.
I spread my fingers out over the surface and watched the ripples. I suddenly realized I was feeling weak. Was using small doses of my power causing it?

“Is it deep?”
I asked.

“
Nothing you couldn’t handle,” she replied.

The reflection from the sun hitting the water’s surface nearly blinded me. I had to close my eyes.
I stepped closer to Andre, wading deeper into the water, hoping to avoid the glare. Suddenly, the ground beneath my feet vanished, and I fell right into the water. I came up, gasping. The water was like ice!

“
Well, if you were that prudish about getting undressed, you should’ve said something,” Andre chuckled. “You okay?”

“Just fine,” I said
, gritting my teeth. “There must’ve been a ledge there.”

“
Whatever. Come on, let’s go!” Andre began swimming away.

I followed,
a strange feeling drawing me to the murky depths. Was it because it was as deep and dark as I felt inside? Or was it the chill, the same chill I felt with this angry beast inside me?

Andre stopped. She faced me, her eyes wide. “What was that?”

“What?”

“Something just ran over my foot—
AH!” She disappeared below the surface before she’d finished her yelp.

“Andre!” I screamed. “Andre!”

I dove under, searching for her, pushing myself further down, but the water was too cloudy. Something had stirred up debris from the bottom.

A faint light began to emerge from the dark
, and I swam towards it. If there was light, I could use it to find her. My fingers came to the bottom and I stilled, allowing the debris to settle and my eyes to adjust. The glow returned, and my eyes widened. I reached out towards the light, and my fingers struck something round and metallic.

A shiver ran down my spine; something wasn’t right. A moment later,
someone screamed above the water. Abandoning the light, I flew to the surface. Bursting into the cold air, I searched for Andre again.

She was gone.

Splashing caught my attention. I caught her hand before she went under, but her fingers slipped through mine. No, I had to save her!

I
plunged down again and swam towards her last location. I held my breath, watching the water for ripples or bubbles. Three pops appeared about twenty yards away on the surface, and I hurried towards them. My chest tightened as something drifted over my arm, but before I could grasp it, it was gone. I searched for as long as I could, but fatigue took over, and eventually I had to come up for air.

The lake surface was
peaceful now. Fear of losing Andre spiked my adrenalin, and I looked again. But with so much dirt below, I couldn’t see more than a few feet in front of me, and the light I’d seen before had disappeared.

Suddenly husky voices bellowed from the shore.
Callon, Koda and Maes were there, about to jump into the water. I didn’t wait for them, and swam deeper, exhausted or not. If only I could
see
! I clawed through the murkiness, wishing I could summon a hurricane and rip the water clean. But I didn’t dare. Not after what happened last time.

My lung
s burned, and I pushed myself to the surface. A pair of hands grabbed my shoulders, and I half-screamed.

“Where is she?!” Maes demanded, his hold so tight it left marks on my skin.

“I-I don’t know!” I spluttered. “She was here and then she disappeared…”

“Where’d you last see her?” Koda sw
am ahead, scanning the depths.

“She was right over there,” I pointed, struggling to remain calm. This was my fault again
.

“Cheyenne!” Callon pulled me towards him. “It’s going to be okay. We’ll find her.”

“I—”

A scream broke my concentration. A few hundred yards ahead
, Andre appeared, and was fighting to stay afloat. Maes grunted and swam towards her, Koda directly behind.

Andre struggled hard, but her head slowly began sinking below the surface again. Something was dragging her down!

“Andre!” I screamed, trying to swim towards her.

“No!”
Callon’s arm wrapped around my waist. “Koda and Maes will get her. Just tell me what happened.”

I ignored Callon, unable to tear my eyes from Andre. She couldn’t die on me, not now.

Maes dived, then Koda. Moments passed, and the water grew still. Tears began to form in my eyes.

No, not again!
My love wasn’t toxic. I was!

Finally
Maes burst from the water, Andre in his arms. Her head fell limply to the side but she began coughing. Maes and Koda started swimming towards us. Callon released his hold and yanked on my wrist.

“Swim!”

We paddled to shore, reaching the sand moments before Maes, Koda, and Andre. A group had formed on the banks. Lilly’s hands were pressed to her mouth. I collapsed as Callon moved away, barking out orders.

“Nakari, get some towels and blankets,” he ordered. “Lay her here, Maes.”

Andre’s face was pale and her eyes closed, but she was coughing. Callon rolled her to her side, trying to help clear the water from her lungs.

What had I done?

My hands began shaking, and my legs wouldn’t allow me to stand. I crawled closer, peering through the crowd. Callon was speaking to Andre quietly as Maes held her head. Koda touched her hand and squeezed. Dex moved in closer, checking her pulse.

“
Can’t a girl have a swim when she wants?” Andre muttered between her coughs.

What had happened? I kept replaying the events in my head
, but nothing made sense. What had dragged Andre away?

Maes’s jade-rimmed eyes met mine. The veins in his neck were growing at an alarming rate.

“What happened?” Maes growled. Before I could answer, Nakari appeared with Daniel, towels and blankets in hand. Callon and Dex began wrapping Andre up.

“Daniel,” Callon called out. “Take Andre back. Nakari, take Dex with you.”

Within moments they disappeared.
Ah, Nakari could jump like Daniel
. Lilly began running towards the manor. With them gone, all the attention turned towards me.

Maes looked like he was about to hit someone. “
Start talking, Cheyenne!”

“I—I don’t know
what happened.” My lips trembled.

Callon pushed Maes aside, his hazel eyes etched with concern.

“Are you okay? Are you hurt at all?”

I shook my head.

“Can you stand?”

He grabbed my arm and helped me up. Koda moved
beside Maes, wary he might do something aggressive.

“Cheyenne, what happened with Andre?” Koda asked
again. His eyes had softened; those same icy blue eyes and blond hair now dangling over his lashes. I looked away.

“I
’ve told you, I don’t know. One minute she was there and the next…”

The group remained still, studying me. Did they think I was lying?

“Why didn’t you do anything, Cheyenne?” Maes snarled.

My chest tightened. “You don’t think I was trying? I searched the entire lake bed for her!”

“You didn’t try hard enough!” Maes barked. “All that power at your fingertips and you’re still worthless!” His eyes flashed. “The lost Kvech heir, our lost leader and salvation…what a joke!”

“I never asked for this!” I shot back. “You’re the one who keeps piling expectation onto me. You keep saying I’m your hope. Well, I’m not! All I bring is death and destruction!” My hands began shaking.

“Cheyenne, calm down,” Callon reached for my hand.

I backed away
from him, breathing hard. I didn’t want to give him my poisonous touch.

“You’d be better off with Marcus,” Maes mumbled. “At least he’d put that power to good use.”

Instantly my hands rose, the beast within wanting release. If Maes wanted power, a fight, he’d feel it firsthand. The ground began rumbling, mirroring my emotions. At once, Callon grasped my arms, pinning them to my sides.

“
Cheyenne, stop it!”

I blinked as he stared down at me
, and the realization hit. I had been about to give total freedom to the crimson-eyed creature. My body relaxed, and Callon loosened his hold. I lowered my head.

“Just leave me alone.” My voice shook. I pushed away and headed back towards the estate.

What was happening to me? I was completely out of control. This wasn’t like me at all. I’d always had a temper, but to be so willing to lash out…what if Callon hadn’t stopped me? How many others would I have harmed or even killed?

I rubbed my eyes. Why should I feel guilt for Maes, or any of them, really? They were the
ones who treated me unfairly. Telling me that grieving for Colt was wrong, that I had to marry Callon and destroy Marcus. That my own heart and free will meant nothing. It’s not like they’d even told me how I’d destroy Marcus. What difference did it make if I followed their wishes or the beast’s? Maybe the best thing I’d done was giving it total and complete control.

Gravel
crunched close behind me, but I knew it wasn’t Callon. I twisted. Clayton was there, slightly out of breath.

“I’m sorry, Cheyenne. They asked me to follow you back.” He sounded afraid. “I—I—”

The beast growled, and I clenched my fist. Callon had sent someone else to take care of me. Once again I’d been pushed to the side. Once again he could have made a difference, could have talked with me, but he left me alone. Left me alone with this
thing
gnawing away further at my resolve. How could he say he wanted to help find me when he wouldn’t come searching himself?

I didn’t respond,
and instead made my way up the terrace steps and to my room. Clayton stayed in the sitting area, waiting to make sure I had returned.

As
I changed, leaving my wet clothes in a pile on the bathroom floor, I was surprised the cold hadn’t affected me much. A massive difference from when Colt had dunked me in the river to cool my fever.

Before those memories
could be dredged up, I headed for the balcony. I couldn’t afford to get distracted. The group was still at the lake’s edge, staring out at the water.

Today’s events had only confirmed what I’d known to be right. I had to
stay away from everyone. I was bad luck.
Andre had only wanted to keep an eye on me. Instead I’d let her get caught and almost killed by whatever was in the lake. And for all my powers, I’d been helpless to protect her. Like I’d been helpless to protect Colt.

Maybe Maes was right. I’d be better off with Marcus.

My fingers clenched the railing. No, Marcus was what drove the beast inside. The hatred for all he’d taken away from me fueled it. Marcus would never have me; I’d never allow it. I’d die trying to kill him first. I’d see him suffer in hell for all that he’d done, both to me, and my family.

A soft knock caught my ear, and then my bedroom door opened. I didn’t bother to turn as soft footsteps neared.
Wouldn’t they even give me a little privacy?

“Cheyenne?” Lilly said quietly. “Are you alright? I rushed off with Andre, and I feel horrible
for not checking on you.”

“There’s nothing to check on. I’m fine.”

Lilly moved closer.

“Cheyenne?” She hesitated. “You seem upset
. Do you want to talk about it?”