Control (Book Seven) (Fated Saga Fantasy Series) by Rachel Humphrey - D'aigle Page A

have a choice. For whatever reason, he wants this woman freed.”
    “Doesn’t it seem odd to you? He calls her their oldest enemy, and yet he wants her freed... and the woman I am freeing is Jurekai’s own mother. Something just doesn’t add up.”
    “No. It doesn’t. But I guess that doesn’t matter for right now. Colin,” she began.
    “Yes.”
    “Are you going to be okay? Doing this without me?”
    “Like you s aid, I don’t have a choice.”
    “And reuniting with Meghan? Can you handle that?”
    “Yes,” he replied, although his tone wasn’t sure. “Yes,” he said more confidently. “I can handle it.” He didn’t want Catrina worrying about him flying off the handle and losing it the entire time she was stuck here.
    “Please be careful,” she whimpered. “I know you’ll be worried about me, but promise me you won’t do anything rash.”
    “I will worry about you. Ev ery single moment I’m gone. I don’t know if I can do it... leave you here... you don’t even have any food or water! Or warm enough clothes.”
    “Freyne told me before you arrived that if I needed food or water to ask for it and it would arrive. I’m not sure I want to know what his version of food is... he claimed it was part of the magic he used to create this prison. And I’m not cold.”
    In truth, she was a little cold, but she wasn’t about to tell him that.
    “Look, I’m no happier about being here than you are, but obviously, Freyne doesn’t want me dead. He could have killed me numerous times already.”
    To further prove her point, she called out, “Water please.”
    A glass appeared, sitting on the ground. She picked it up and tasted it. “It’s fine,” she insisted.
    He couldn’t speak. He knew she was putting up a brave front, and he knew he had to go, but he had a hard time just taking his eyes off her. His chest ached at the mere thought of letting her out of his sight.
    “When I get you out of here, ” he began, “I am never leaving your side again. I don’t care who needs my help, or who we need to hide from... never again. I love you.”
    He wanted so desperately to wrap his arms around her and carry her away from this place.
    “I love you,” she whispered back.
    It took every ounce of strength he had to leave.
    Catrina watched her savior disappear.
    She heard a distant bellow from the direction of Freyne’s mirror.
    “He will kill you, you know,” she responded confidently. “It’s only a matter of time.”
    There was no reply but the laughter stopped.
     
    ##
     
    Many h ours had passed since the mysterious ship landed in the middle of the banished encampment earlier that morning.
    Everyone on board with injuries now treated, waited anxiously along with many others for a long meeting to end; between Nashua, the Tunkapog leader, Curtis Bevins, current leader of the banished Svoda and the new arrivals. Billie and Noah spoke on behalf of the group.
    As an advisor to Nashua, Kanda sat in as well, along with Arnon Jacoby and a few others from the banished camp.
    Ivan, Meghan, Nona, and Sebastien all waited together. Jae had decided to return to bed, after another cup of Kanda’s potion laden tea during lunch. It was coming up on night and the lack of sleep was starting to catch up with Meghan and Ivan. Neither had slept properly in days. Kanda’s tea was looking like a better option by the minute.
    Nevertheless, both stayed awake, desperate to find out what was happening on the island. And what was going to happen after this meeting ended.
    If the plan to confront Fazendiin and reclaim the Stone would be postponed, in order to confront Juliska Blackwell, or if nothing would change and the Immortality Stone would still take precedent.
    Meghan hung her head looking distressed. “If Billie and the rest of her crew had to escape on a ship belonging to the Stripers, things must have gone down hill, fast.”
    “The meeting should be over soon, ” said Sebastien. “Let’s wait and see. Maybe