Enduring Light (3 page)

“He’s a good guy.”

He tossed his apple core into a bin. “Maybe. I know I should trust him, but I don’t.”

“Well, Liam will be with us too, and I know you trust him.”

“Do I trust him? Yes. Do I trust him with you? The jury’s still out.”

I took another bite and wiped some juice that ran down my chin. “Well, you know Henry’s not into me. He’s been pining over Rachel this whole time.”

“I’ll agree with you there. When in doubt, stick with Henry.”

I laughed. “Please never change.”

“The same goes for you. You’re going to be okay. All jokes aside, I’m glad you’ll have three Guardians with you.”

“Me too.” Although I tried to act calm, I had learned the hard way about the dangers in Energo. I wouldn’t want to travel alone.

Monty joined us. “Kevin, I’m about ready to go.” He’d shaved, and he finally looked like my uncle again. I knew facial hair was the thing in Energo, but Monty would always look funny to me with a beard. The same could be said for Kevin and Liam—but they’d shaved the second they had the chance. Monty usually waited until it was a full beard.

He must have caught me staring. “Do I have anything on my face?”

“No… but that’s kind of the point. You’re not fuzzy anymore.”

“I figured if I was going back to civilization, I might as well look the part.”

I checked out his black cotton outfit. “You think you look the part?”

“Very funny.
 
Have you looked at yourself lately?”

My long red dress was comfortable but not even remotely practical. I missed jeans. “Don’t rub it in.”

“You look beautiful in that dress.” Calvin came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. He was so comfortable with public displays like that, but I still felt strange—especially with Liam around.

I gave in and leaned back against Calvin. “Of course you’d say that.”

He didn’t seem to mind the way Kevin rolled his eyes before walking away.

“I have a surprise for you.” Calvin lightly kissed my neck, keeping his lips there for a moment longer than I expected. The contact made me shiver with a mix of nerves and anticipation.
  

 
I turned to look at him. “Really?”

He held out a package wrapped in parchment.

I ripped it open to find a pair of black pants and a shirt similar to what Samantha wore. “Thanks so much!”

“Blake’s men are going to recognize us no matter what you are wearing. You might as well be comfortable. But you do not have me to thank.”

“I don’t?”

“Nope. Samantha insisted on it.”

I spotted Samantha’s blond hair a little ways off and excused myself to go talk to her. I stopped a few beds down from where she stood. “Hey.”

She looked up from packing some supplies. “Oh. Hi, Charlotte.”

I held out the new clothes. “Thanks for these.”

“It is nothing. It just seemed silly that they were making you wear dresses. No one is going to be fooled.”

“I appreciate it.”

She smiled. “Any advice for me? I am about to enter unchartered territory myself.”

I was tempted to give her a warning about my brother but kept to the question she really asked. “Just be prepared for people acting differently. Men aren’t exactly as respectful there. If you want to blend in, take some clothes from my closet.”

“Oh, great. I did not even think of that. I would stand out in this?” She gestured at her black pants and white top.

“Yeah… although boots are in this time of year.”

She laughed lightly. “I wish we were going together. It would be nice to have another girl around.”

“I completely agree. We’ll have to hang out when this is all over.” It still felt strange yet awesome to like a girl my brother was dating—if one could call it dating. I wasn’t sure what was going on with them.

“Definitely. Be safe.”

“Same to you.” I reached out awkwardly to hug her.

She returned the hug just as awkwardly. “Bye.” She smiled before walking away.

Kevin walked over as soon as she disappeared from sight. I wondered if that was intentional.

“I guess this is it.” He gave me a huge bear hug, lifting me slightly off the floor. “Take care of yourself. Be strong.”

“Same to you.”
 
I tried to hold back the tears that threatened to spill. I hoped it wouldn’t be the last time we would see each other, and I forced myself to be strong.

We stood there silently as we waited for Mom and Monty to join us. I was really getting tired of all the goodbyes.

Monty swung me around as he always did. At least some things never changed. “Don’t do anything crazy.”

Mom gave me the biggest hug yet. “You can do this, Charlotte.”

I didn’t want to let go of her. Our time apart had made me need her more, both as my mom, and as the former Essence.
 

Calvin took my hand, giving me a sympathetic smile. “You ready?”

He’d been away from his family for months; I wondered if it was hard on him, too.
 
At least I wasn’t saying goodbye to Calvin. I didn’t think I could handle that again.

“Yes.”
 
I waved goodbye to everyone and let Calvin lead me to the horses. There were only three. “I’m guessing that means we’re riding together?”

“I would prefer to have you close.”

“Sounds good.” I definitely didn’t mind. I never felt safer or happier than when I was with him.

Liam and Henry were already waiting for us.

“Ready for another adventure, Char?” Liam asked.

“Another? We’ve had one before?”

Henry laughed. “This is going to be interesting.”

Calvin helped me into the saddle, and we were off.

Chapter Three

Kevin

Saying goodbye to Charlotte was becoming second nature. I knew that adult siblings weren’t supposed to see each other all the time, but it was getting a little ridiculous. I understood why we had to do our own parts, but I just wished that for once we could have been in the same world together. While Charlotte was looking for the scroll, I had to find some sort of stone called the Onyx. No one knew much about it, but supposedly some ancestor of mine hid it in the lost world around the same time the scroll was written.

I guessed that world had been lost a long time. I had no clue what the thing looked like. A stone could be a lot of different shapes and sizes, but Monty seemed confident we’d know it if we saw it. Plus, my dad was supposed to be an expert on it. In theory, the stone was supposed to hold some incredible power, and if used correctly, it could destroy Blake. Without the knowledge, it was useless, which was why Charlotte was looking for the scroll. Just as Charlotte was the only one who could get the scroll, a Winthrop Guardian had to retrieve the Onyx. For better or worse, I was the only one who fit the bill.

“You ready?” Samantha asked impatiently as I finished packing my backpack.

Taking the few things I had from the cave was kind of dumb since I could get anything I needed at my house in Charleston, but I didn’t like leaving things behind. “Yeah, let’s do this.”

Monty and Talen had already gone ahead to make sure the gate was unguarded. I didn’t mind. I liked having the time alone with Samantha.

“How long is the trip to Alaska going to be?” she asked.

“Both flights, combined with the layover, add up to about ten hours or so.”

“Flights. I still can’t picture it.”

“It’s pretty cool. I think you’ll like it.” I was excited to show her my world. In Energo, and even in Alak, she had the upper hand. I was the novice who had no idea what he was doing. It would be nice to be the one with a clue.

She got that cold, steely expression. “It does not matter whether I like it. If it gets us to the Onyx, it is worth it.”

I smiled. “You really are single-minded.”

“So are you.” Her half-smile let me know exactly what she was referring to.

“I think of plenty more than that.” True, I thought about Samantha a lot, but I didn’t let it get in the way of other things.

She crossed her arms. “Remember what I said in Alak. If it interferes with our mission, it is over.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I mock-saluted.

She shook her head. “I do not know what I see in you.”

“Sure you do. It’s my charm and good looks.”

“Maybe the good looks part.” She blushed—a very rare occurrence.

“I’ll take it for now. You ready?”

“I have been waiting on you for ten minutes already.” She slung her pack on her back and headed toward the exit.

“Yeah, yeah.”

The sun was high in the sky when we walked out of the cave. If things went well, we’d be back in Charleston by the time the sun set in Energo, which would be sun
rise
back home.

Samantha walked next to me as we hiked through the fern grotto. “Did you have any idea your father was looking for the Onyx?”

We’d have to cross plains next before hitting a more temperate forest. I’d only made the journey to this gate once, but I remembered it well. “No. Honestly, I was pissed at him for closing us out.”
Pissed
was putting it mildly. My relationship with my father had gone from bad to worse our last year in Alaska.

“You were lucky to have your father.”

“I’m sorry.” I probably sounded like a whiny idiot. At least I had parents.

“It is okay, but sometimes you have to appreciate what you have.”

“I know. I just felt like Charlotte needed him.” I needed him too, but not the same way my sister did. I was older when Mom disappeared, and basketball kept me busy enough that I got through it.

Samantha stepped around a twisted set of tree roots, brushing against me in the process. “Have you always been so protective of Charlotte?”

“Yes. I’m not sure how much of it comes from being a Guardian and how much comes from being her brother.”

She smiled. “Probably a little of both.”

“How old were you when your parents died?” I usually steered clear of the subject, but it also seemed like something I should know.

“Young enough that I do not remember them.” She sped up, letting me know the conversation was over.

“Hey, wait up.”

“Sorry. It is not something I want to discuss.”

“Got it.” I searched for a safe conversation topic. “Are you excited to see where I come from?”

She finally slowed. “I want to find the Onyx. If in the process I get to learn more about you, that is fine too.”

“Why is it so hard for you to admit you like me?”

“I have made my feelings crystal clear.” She ran a finger over her bottom lip as if she was remembering one of our kisses.

“You can make them clear again anytime.”

“And you say you do not have a one-track mind?”

I shrugged. “Watching you touch your lips did it. It’s not my fault.”

“A real man takes responsibility for his thoughts and actions.”

I laughed. “A
real man
? How many
real
men have you kissed?”

She hurried ahead again.

Damn it.
“I was joking, Samantha.”

“I do not care. I want to get there.”

I hustled to catch up with her. I had no idea what made me say such stupid things around her.

“None,” she whispered just as we entered the garden.

I was smart enough to keep my mouth shut, for a change. Thankfully, she was ahead of me and didn’t see the grin on my face.