Freed by Flame and Storm by Becky Allen

Author:Becky Allen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2017-12-12T05:00:00+00:00

Elan stared at the slope that hadn’t been there five minutes ago. Jae’s shoulders heaved and there was sweat gathering on her forehead, but that was the only outward sign of what she’d just done—an act of magic that went even further than opening the entrance to this tunnel.

“I’ll keep the water out of this branch until you return,” she promised him. “It’ll be muddy, though.”

He nodded. He was wearing boots but had a bag with sandals and a clean robe he could pull on once he got to the city to hide that he was obviously an outsider. “I’ll be careful.”

“Good. I raised the exit in a park by the channel. No one was around, so hopefully no one will find it and explore in the meantime.”

“All right.” He hesitated. It was just the two of them now, out by the reservoir. She’d asked for privacy, and a handful of Closest had fallen in to keep others from approaching them, including members of the Order. He had no doubt his absence would be noticed, but the information he brought back would be vital. And he didn’t care that much what Lenni thought about his coming and going. Maybe it would be a good reminder that he didn’t quite trust her. That even though the Order had been vital, Jae was the one in charge now.

At least, Elan hoped the Order would realize that—and that Jae would. She hadn’t exactly embraced the role.

He hesitated, looking at the steep slope of the tunnel, then back at her. “You be careful, too. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

He held out a hand and she took it, not hesitating. Her skin was rough with calluses. He stepped close, and her eyes opened wide, but she didn’t move. “Jae…”

She didn’t say anything but looked from their joined hands back up to him, so, heartbeat racing, he leaned in and kissed her. Just for the briefest moment, his lips barely meeting hers, awkward with both of their mouths closed.

Her hand clenched his so tight it hurt and her whole body went stiff with tension. He pulled away quickly, wanting to curse himself. He’d thought…He knew how he felt, he’d cared about her for so long, and when she’d started talking about Palma he’d thought maybe…

But she didn’t look excited or intrigued or any of the ways girls usually looked when he kissed them.

“I’m sorry,” he said, stumbling back a step. “I shouldn’t have done that. I’m sorry.”

“I…” She was blinking, breathing hard. “I don’t know what…don’t know…”

He hesitated, and it was awful, because she looked lost and he wanted to reach out to steady her. But he was the reason she looked like that. “I should—I should go. I…”

He fell back another few steps, then turned away even though she was still staring at him, until she said, “Wait.”

He stilled, except to look back at her. She didn’t look any less terrified; she didn’t reach for him.

But she said, “Be careful. Come back quickly.

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