Fearless Magic (29 page)

“Lucan agreed to the exchange?” he asked, skeptically.

“Yes, but like I said he wants me to go alone. I need to know if this is a trap. Either way, I don't mind going alone, I'm certainly not afraid of anything that Lucan would send, and I would feel a large number of Titans miles away, but I want to know what I'm getting into.”

Sebastian sat thoughtfully for a moment before answering, “If Lucan agreed to the exchange, then I have to believe he will hold to the terms of the agreement.”

The door opened behind me and Grace walked through, carrying fresh clothes for Sebastian. “Jericho asked if he could speak with you when you get a free moment,” she mentioned sweetly to me, handing the clothes over.

“Thank you,” I said, “tell him I'll be there in a second.”

She left the room and I turned back to Sebastian, tossing the clothes on his lap.

“What's this?” he asked, his face involuntarily lighting up.

“I thought you might want to shower and change, sorry I've been neglectful about it,” I smiled at him, genuinely apologetic I let him suffer even this small amount. My heart broke again for Avalon, remembering him in that prison cell, beaten and bloodied. I was desperate to figure out a way to rescue him, a foolproof plan this time, one that could guarantee success.

“That's Ok,” Sebastian waved off my apology, “I think
you've
only showered and changed like once this whole time.” Titus let out short barking laughter that I shot down quickly with an annoyed glance. Sebastian stood up, holding his clothes to his chest, “Eden, this is very unlike Lucan to even entertain the idea of a prisoner exchange.”

“So you
do
think it's a trap?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at him.

“No, I don't. I am just saying, this doesn't really sound like
him.
” Sebastian shrugged his shoulders and then left the room, leaving Titus and I alone.

“What are you guys now? Bff's?” I joked and Titus rolled his eyes

“He's actually, kind of cool.” He shrugged and then changed his story, “I mean, not cool, but he's, he's just not that bad, I mean, for a prisoner he's all right?”

“Not that bad?” It was my turn to roll my eyes. Sebastian was like a terminally ill, but naughty pet. Everyone hated him when I first brought him home, but now people were growing attached to him. Eventually, he was going to have to be put down; I just hoped it didn't upset too many people when that finally happened.

I left the room in search of Jericho and found him in the kitchen, dishing up a bowl of hot soup. He turned around when I entered the room and gestured to a splintered, old table to the right of the stove. He set the bowl of steaming stew in front of me and then returned to a large, cast iron pot that simmered with the delicious spices only India had to offer.

“So, we're taking advice from prisoners now?” Jericho sat down across from me and stared at me from over his steaming bowl of Indian stew. I felt like a small child about to be scolded.

“I just wanted to know what I was getting into. Sebastian has offered his help in return for mine and I needed to know if I could trust the terms of Lucan's arrangement or not, that's all,” I explained, blowing on a hot, soupy potato before devouring it. The stew was scrumptious, abundantly flavorful, and a little spicy and it helped that I couldn't even remember the last time I sat down to eat a meal.

“And do you think that you can?” Jericho asked, narrowing his eyes intensely at me from where he sat.

“Honestly, I still don't know. However, I'm willing to risk it. As I told Sebastian, if he has a trap waiting for me, I'll be able to feel it from miles away. If he is sincere, then I will have Lilly back.” I shrugged as if the task was as simple as the words.

“I don't like it,” he mumbled, staring down at his soup.

“Do you ever like it when I'm in possible danger?” I smiled at him, and his tanned cheeks blushed with embarrassment.

“Eden, I'm serious; this could so easily be a trap,” Jericho reached out his hand, took mine and held it gently; his thumb moved back and forth across my palm and I couldn't help but stop eating to give him my full attention.

“You're right, it could be. But, we can't keep Talbott here much longer, you said so yourself. At least this way, we get something out of it.” I gazed into his eyes, getting lost in their soulfulness. “Besides, because it's Lilly, I know I can trust Talbott to behave until the exchange. He wants her out of there as badly as I do.”

“You really think Kiran's personal Titan bodyguard is in love with a Shape-shifter?” Jericho questioned skeptically, laughing a little at the idea.

“Yes, I do,” but I couldn't help but laugh too, “Jericho, this is a new age we are ushering in. When we win this war, they can finally be together!” I squealed, excited for Lilly and the idea that her feelings for Talbott had never gone away.

“As long as Talbott doesn't die first, fighting for the wrong side,” Jericho mumbled, killing the moment.

I sighed, realizing he was right. “Anyway, where am I doing this whole prisoner exchange?”

“Morocco, there is an isolated air strip in the middle of the Sahara that our two sides have used before for situations like this,” Jericho explained, turning his attention back to his soup.

“Well, the good news is, I was kind of disappointed that I missed the sight-seeing when we went to London instead.” I smiled, trying to shake off the growing nerves and buzzing magic.

“Well, good.” Jericho wasn't quite sure how to respond to my nonchalance. “The advantage the desert brings, is, that you'll be able make a circle of the area and have a visual of what you're up against before you land.”

“A circle of the area? Did we forget that I can't fly a plane?” I asked, realizing my plan might be dead in its tracks.

“I've thought of that, and if you really trust Talbott, then I suppose you can let him pilot. He should know how. Or you can trust your magic, but somehow I don't think you'll agree to that.” Jericho looked up at me from underneath thick, dark eyelashes and for a moment I wanted to forget the whole trip and never leave his side again. Then, I remembered Lilly and knew that I had to do everything in my power to get her out of there.

“Ok, but how will I get out of there, after the exchange?” I asked, trying to think the whole plan through.

“Lilly can fly you home, as long as she isn't incapacitated for some reason. Otherwise, you really will have to use your magic. Or, I can go with you; that would solve all of your problems.” His expression flickered with hope. I knew he was serious, and trying to hide behind sarcasm, and I found it endearing for some reason. I stared at him for a moment, finding his eyes and letting them hold me. There was nothing special about our conversation or anything that he was saying, but something about his concern for me, and willingness to support me in whatever I decided, helped me take another step away from Kiran, helped to loosen his hold the smallest amount and fall that much more for Jericho.

“Does everyone know how to fly a plane, except me?” I asked, feeling myself flirting for the first time in a very long time.

“Um, yeah, I think so,” he laughed. “Part of it is magic though, and the other part is this global lifestyle we live.... Eden, there's something else I need to talk to you about.”

“Sure,” I smiled, my charming smile, hoping Jericho felt like he could talk to me about anything.

“Something else happened while you were out of it,” he started nervously and I sat up straighter, prepared for whatever news was coming. “Angelica called Silas, who called Gabriel.... Your parents are in Omaha. They want you to go back, they're waiting for you.”

I sat in stunned silence for a few minutes, staring past Jericho at a spot on the wall I wasn't really seeing. I had been thinking about going back to Omaha. I wondered if we, or at least I, needed a place to regroup and figure out our next step, strategically. I was exhausted from the constant traveling, and I was desperately homesick for Aunt Syl, after Kiran mentioned her so callously on the elephant. Intuition was guiding me to check on her.

However, my parents waiting for me was an entirely different story. I started this whole thing by looking for them, but now that the time was here, I couldn't decide if I was emotionally ready. I supposed I didn't have a choice, and I would have a couple days to prepare, but this life I was living was non-stop physically and emotionally.

“Ok,” I sighed, searching for the strength to sound confident. “I have been thinking about going home anyway.”

“We don't have to go if you don't want to. We can go to South Africa or even straight to Romania, if you want. It's up to you.” Jericho reached out both hands this time, taking mine in a comforting gesture.

“No, it's all right. It's time, I suppose. I'm only seventeen, it's probably time I met my birth parents,” I tried to joke, but it came out flat and overly sarcastic. “You go to South Africa, get the last team and then we'll rendezvous in Omaha. Now that Avalon is healed, we can at least create a plan of attack, I can't fail like that again,” I referred to losing Avalon, knowing that if I tried again and failed, Avalon would not survive. “The farm is flattened, but there is enough room at Amory's for everyone to stay. Aunt Syl will have the key. As soon as I get Lilly, we will head straight back.”

“That is very decisive of you,” Jericho teased. “You're turning into quite the leader, Eden.”

“It's only taken me this long to learn how to make a decision on my own, just think what another ten years might accomplish,” I laughed, but Jericho was right. Decisions were getting easier, tough choices were becoming a part of my daily routine. I was getting the hang of leading. I was letting go of Kiran, daily. I was reclaiming bits and pieces of my attachment to him and I was even releasing my desire for vengeance in honor of the collective goal.

Still, I knew that Avalon would have made a better leader. I was not blind to my weaknesses. All I could do was focus on the task at hand, and so far, this looked like the most promising mission yet.

To get Lilly back.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

“Talbott, if anything happens to her, I will hunt you down myself, is that clear?” Jericho threatened with every intention of following through.

“Jericho, I understand. I've told you a million times, nothing is going to happen to her. This is not a trap.” Talbott put a strong hand on Jericho's shoulder as if comforting him father to son.

I turned my head to keep from laughing at the look of shock that flashed across Jericho's face. Talbott was considerably calmed down since we put the plans for the prisoner exchange into motion. I knew he was looking forward to being in control of something again, and from past experiences, I knew how hard it was for him to be away from Kiran, but I wanted to believe that it was something more. Lilly's safety appeared to be enough leverage to incentivize Talbott and I wondered if one day, she would be enough to bring Talbott to our side.

“All right, you should go. Get this over with and then get out of there, yeah?” Jericho turned to me, pulling me into a hug. His magic buzzed around mine in excited nearness, but mine was reserved, afraid to attach itself to more magics.

“Yeah,” I whispered into his chest, not wanting to let go, despite the uncomfortable closeness of his magic. The relentless electricity driving my rapid circulation left me drained and completely exhausted, but Jericho was my rock. His presence alone provided perfect comfort and when we touched, I couldn't help but feel hope deep in my bones that everything was going to be Ok.

He kissed the top of my head, and then my cheek as if he couldn't help himself. I reluctantly let go of him and joined Talbott in the Cessna that even he marveled at. Talbott closed the door behind us and I followed him into the tiny cockpit. Not that it would have made any difference if I were sitting with him or not, because there was absolutely no way for me to be sure he was going where he was supposed to; but I felt like my presence would at least pressure him to stay accountable.

“Now you're sure you know how to fly this thing?” I asked, hesitantly letting go of irrational fears, like him crashing my grandfather's plane into the side of a mountain.

“Yes, Eden, of course.” He turned and grinned at me. His deep chocolate eyes were twinkling with the same excitement that Titus had when he flew. I inwardly sighed, boys and their toys.

I leaned back in my chair, and tried to get comfortable. The nine-hour trip to the Sahara would allow Talbott and I a lot of time to get to know each other.

“I'm sorry we had to tie you up before,” I offered an apology in the awkward silence once we were in the air.

He looked at me, unsure what to say, or how to react, but I just smiled. Talbott and I had our differences from the very start, but I knew that if there wasn't a civil war in between us right now, we could have learned to get along.

“I accept your apology,” he replied chivalrously, after the initial stupor wore off. “Besides, you are not technically to blame. From what I gather, you were not conscious.”

“True, but still, I'm the.... leader and all that,” I struggled getting the words out, knowing they would fall flat in my mouth. Talbott would never really see me as the leader of the Rebellion. I could hardly take myself seriously when I thought about it and someone like Talbott, with military training and on the winning side, certainly wouldn't be able to say those words without laughing.