Broken Prince (The Broken Ones) by Jen Wylie Page B

midday dark as evening as they
continued to search for shelter. Rain started to spit down, not hard, but the
now driving wind made navigating between rocks and trees more difficult.
    Half a dozen times she stopped herself from asking if
anyone had found anything yet. They’d let her know when they did. This pack
mind speech turned out to be rather helpful.
    I found a cave! Kei’s excitement made her trip. She barely managed to steady herself against a
tree.
    A grin split her face, and then she winced as everyone
tried to get a location from him. She moved south, raising a hand to shield her
eyes from the rain as she searched for anyone else. Visibility continued to
worsen.
    Worry began to knot her stomach as the rain fell
harder. Finding the others might be harder than she thought. They didn’t know
the area and landmarks were almost useless. The few they could use now they
couldn’t even see because of the storm. Maybe splitting up had been a very bad
idea.
    Her clothes were soaked through already, her hair a
tangled dripping mess. Over and over she wiped water from her eyes. The rain
fell harder and she had to bow her head against it as she trudged along.
    Boys, I’ve no idea where I am, or where you are.
    I see Bo and Prince, Kei said. As soon as they’re here I’ll come for you.
    I’ve the horses scent. For now. Garen’s annoyed growl echoed in her head. I don’t
think I’m far behind though.
    She directed her thoughts to Kei only. How will you
find me?
    I can always find you. Look for me with your heart and
soul, Aro.
    His words made her stop in her tracks. They could find
each other? Is that how he had tracked them last fall when the fury had taken
him? Perhaps. Of course they hadn’t tried to hide either.
    She frowned. How did she look with her heart and soul?
Kei spoke of the Fey magic they had done. Twice. They were friends, they were
family. The Fey had a third binding, of mates, though she didn’t have any
inclination to do that one. What she and Kei had done wasn’t really magic, at
least not compared to what the Elves could apparently do. Fey bindings involved
promises of intent. They were heart and soul magic. Whatever that meant.
    Standing against a tree, trying to stay out of the
driving wind and rain, she closed her eyes and thought of Kei. Other than the
pack mind link, there was nothing. She couldn’t get a direction from it either.
    I can’t find you.
    I’m coming. The others are here.
    You should have told me about this before. We could
have practiced!
    I thought you knew. I’m sorry.
    The strangely sad undertones to his thought made her
sigh. Shivering, she sniffed and got water up her nose. "Rotting rain!"
    The tree proved to be less and less of a break against
the storm. Grumbling in annoyance, she carefully struck out again, moving in
the direction of the next outcrop of rock she’d seen. If she moved to the other
side, at least it might block the raging wind.
    Lightening lit the sky in the distance, but the worst
of the storm hadn’t even hit them yet. Finally she found some shelter behind a
rock and hunkered down to wait.
    I hope you all are nice and dry , she muttered at the others.
    Wait until you see the cave, Bo answered. It’s huge, we even got the horses in.
Someone has used it before. There’s wood, and a fire pit. Even some–
    Kei’s thought interrupted Bo. I’m almost to you.
    Despite feeling like a drowned rat, and quite
miserable, she smiled in relief. When he appeared out of the rain directly in
front of her she still jumped and swung.
    He caught her hand with a laugh and pulled her into a
wet embrace. "Easy!"
    Even with his mouth to her ear she could hardly hear
him over the wind and rain. Squeezing him tightly to her for a moment, she then
pulled back and slipped her hand into his. Let’s go get dry!
    He nodded and set off slowly, pulling her gently
behind him.
    Is it far?
    Not very. Terrain gets much worse though. Watch your
steps.
    Proving his words, the