Savor (26 page)

“We already told you, we need the knowledge to be able to unlock the potential of the crystals.”

“You said the witches had the knowledge, but why do we need it? Isn’t it dangerous for anyone to have both?” Norco might have been the home to my people, but I didn’t know them enough to trust them with the power to destroy everything.

“It’s more dangerous not to. We need to protect the innocent. That’s what our people have always done.”

“What else do you know about the witches’ plans? None of you are surprised by this attack, so you know more than you’re telling us.”

“Taliana saw it all. The witches are planning to destroy everyone. They want to rid the earth of humans.”

“What?” My mouth must have been hanging open.

“I know it’s a lot to take in, but it’s coming. A great war like we’ve never seen.”

“You put that much faith in Taliana’s visions?”

“Yes. And don’t you see? Vera is so powerful because of who her parents are. She has the gift to use the crystals from Gareth, and the gift of vision from Taliana. That’s why she needs you Jared. She needs the protection of the strongest creature possible.” Gemma gave Jared a look of admiration.

“I’ll say it again.” I crossed my arms. “This is all insane.”

“You need to believe us, Vera. We’re talking about life and death, survival and extinction.” There was something eerie about hearing those words from someone as innocent looking at Gemma.

Despite my reservations, I found myself nodding.

“We don’t have time to waste. We need to get off this island, and we need to do it with some of the crystals.”

“And how are we going to do that?”

Slade and Gemma looked at each other. “We’re going to use the paste I made. It should help protect us.”

“This ‘paste’… what is it exactly?”

“It’s extracts from the crystals. It’s going to sting a little at first, but it will work. I’ve tried it on myself, but I’ve never tried it on a Pteron.” She looked at Jared.

“Great.” Jared sighed. “I get to be a guinea pig.”

“I’
m not wearing war paint.” There were a lot of things I was willing to do, but putting on ritualistic and spiritual war paint for bears? Forget it. “I’ll put some paste on my arm or something.”

“Why not?” Vera waited while Gemma painted her face. “I thought you were up for being a guinea pig.”

“When we were talking about experimenting with the crystals a little, not smearing it all over my face.” I left out my issues with the ritual factor. I wasn’t a bear, and I wasn’t going to pretend to be one. Instead I went down another line of argument. “It’s not going to change anything. It’s not really going to help.”

“Of course it’s going to help. At least in theory it will.” Gemma put several dots of paint around Vera’s eyes. It was the same pattern already on her face and Slade’s. They’d done each other’s.

“Then how do you know it’s safe to wear on our faces?” I glanced up at a particularly long crystal. If they were as strong as we thought, they were incredibly dangerous.

“Because I know. You need to trust me.”

“No offense, but my first instinct isn’t to trust a 4 foot eleven little bear.”

“Strong things come in small packages.” She hesitated with the paint a few inches from Vera’s face.

“If I’m going to experiment with the stuff, it’s not going to be on my face.”

“You’re afraid it’s going to mess up your good looks?” Slade sneered.

“Excuse me?” I got in his face. “Are you really going to challenge me?”

“I don’t understand why you think you’re better than the rest of us.” His face was already painted, and he didn’t seem particularly bothered by it. “If Gemma thinks this is going to help, then we do it. Our individual whims are nothing versus the greater good.”

“Why are you involved in this mission anyway?”

“I’m a champion log thrower. The best Norco has ever seen. I’m also resourceful.”

“Champion log thrower?” I laughed. “You can’t be serious.”

“It’s nothing to laugh at. You’ll see when we go out there.”

“Oh, I’m sure that skill will really come in handy.” I went heavy on the sarcasm.

“Jared, just let her put on the damn paint.” Vera stood up and turned to look at me. The paint that looked almost comical on the other two took on a surreal appearance on her face. She was nearly glowing. She looked fierce and unstoppable.

“Wow.”

“Wow?” She put a hand on her hip.

“That paint suits you.”

“If you’re trying to insult me, it’s not going to change anything.”

“I’m not kidding. It’s like you were born to wear it.”

“She
was
born to wear it.” Gemma huffed. “We don’t have much time. Sit down so we can get this done.”

Something about seeing Vera with the paint made me change my mind. Besides, if anything they were saying was true we needed to get to the haven fast. Putting it on would only bring me closer to finding my mom. “Fine.”

“Great.” Gemma smiled. Her good mood seemed to return quickly.

The touch of her fingers as she rubbed the paint against my skin was feather light, but each drop of paint stung my face. It was such a strange sensation. It burned, but I couldn’t tell if it was hot or cold. At least I was immune to mental magic. Anything weird this stuff did couldn’t mess with my mind.

Vera grinned. “I wish I had a camera.”

I glared at her.

“Stop. Stay still,” Gemma held my chin in her hand. “This needs to be done perfectly. I’m banking on the crystals working in concert with the traditional pattern. It should make us unstoppable.”

“Fine.” I relaxed my face and waited for Gemma to finish with the paint. I was tired of sitting around, and currently I was the only one holding us back.

She scooted away.

“Are you done?”

“Yes.” She wiped off her fingers on a towel. I wondered if the paint stung her fingers like it stung our faces. Since the sting on my face had already faded, I assumed the same thing had happened to her hand. “See, was that so bad?”

“Not yet.” I stood up and picked up my backpack. “Are we ready?”

“You make it sound like you’ve been waiting on us for hours. You’re the one who held everything up by being annoying about the paint.” Slade scowled.

“It’s done. Let’s do this.” I put on my pack.

“We need to make sure we all know the plan.” Gemma carefully packed up the paints in her bag.

“The plan is to stay out of sight and get the hell out of here. If all else fails, I grab the girls and fly us away.” I had no idea what was waiting for us out there, but flying might be our only way out.

“You can’t go without me.” Slade moved toward me. “I’m part of this team.”

“No offense, but you’re the lowest on my list.”

“But I’m strong, and I’m the best log thrower out there.”

“You’ve told us that before.” This guy was starting to get on my nerves. If it weren’t for the presence of Vera and Gemma I would have done something about it. I resisted the urge to wipe the paint off my face. It wasn’t out of defiance but discomfort. It was doing something to me, and I didn’t like it.

“It’s going to be a mess out there, try not to let the carnage scare you.” Slade spoke solemnly.

“Carnage?” Vera asked. “As in dead people?”

“The witches came in strong this time. Last time it was a scare tactic, this time is different. They aren’t going to go down easily.”

“Which reminds me, who has access to this cave? Can every bear open it?” That seemed risky. The witches could easily control a bear.

Gemma shook her head. “No. The boulder is sealed by enchantment nearly as old as the crystals. Only those from one of the older lines can open it.”

“And who’s left from those lines?” I needed to know what kind of security risk we were talking about.

“You’re looking at it, besides Taliana and Gareth.”

“Seriously?” I couldn’t hide my surprise. “No other cousins, or uncles or something?”

“No.” There was a deep sadness in Slade’s eyes that said it all. He’d lost the family I was asking about.

“Wait… so are we related?” Vera asked.

Slade laughed. “Concerned you can’t change your mind and mate with me?”

“No, disgusted that you were going to petition for me.”

“You can calm down. We’re not related. I’m from a different line. So is Gemma.”

“Good to know if you guys start hooking up.” Vera laughed.

Gemma scrunched up her face. “No thanks.”

“This talk is thrilling and all, but what happened to the rush we were in?” Not only did I feel like a coward hovering in a cave while there was a fight, I also wanted to get this over with.

Gemma looked at me and smiled.

“What?”

“It’s so cool seeing you in our war paint.”

“Say that again, and I wipe it off.” I still couldn’t believe I’d agreed to it.

“Fine.” She ran her fingers across her lips as though they were a zipper.

“We stay together and head for the far shore.”

“We should cut through the glade,” Slade suggested.

“Won’t that put us at risk? It’s out in the open.” Vera adjusted her backpack on her back.

“Yes, but it keeps us away from the main courtyard. That’s where the worst was happening.”

“But it’s been a while since you guys got here. We have no idea where anyone is. They could be waiting right outside for all we know.”

“No they won’t be. This forest is enchanted. No one will want to come in here. It’s even hard for us.”

“All I felt was a haze.”

“That’s because you’re a Pteron. The whole mental protection thing.” Gemma tapped her temple.

Mental protection really came in handy. “Still, you guys can fight through it, and Gareth barely flinched. We have to expect an army out there.”

“Then what do we do?” Vera crossed her arms.

Gemma bent down to her pack and pulled out several blue bags that appeared to be made out of silk. “First we need to distribute the crystals.”

“Distribute? How many are we bringing?” I gazed around at the hundreds of crystals just in the little spot we were in.