Ever by Darrin Shade Page B

that nothing negative could get in. I felt like I was wearing a cloak of pure light and nothing dark could taint me.
    “Look up,” he murmured.
    A large branch came into view. It curved like an arm raised up in a perpetual greeting. It was the tree from my visions. Without thinking, I stopped in the middle of the path and raised an arm back. I giggled suddenly, thinking about how silly I must look, greeting a tree. As we got closer, the tugging started again and my giggling turned into a weird cackle that bordered on hysteria. A few heads turned our way, but since we lagged behind the group, most of the others didn’t notice my crazy laughing attack.
    “Roots!” Jaren hissed sharply, and abruptly, the tugging sensation ceased. Once again, I felt the sensation of earth between my sneaker-clad toes.
    The guide was saying something about the roots of the tree, and how they were fragile. You weren’t allowed to walk inside the tree’s enclosure, because doing so might damage the roots. Each time I heard the word roots I felt myself become more and more grounded. But even though I was starting to learn how to control the weird sensations I was having, I also became aware of an intense urge to jump the fence and race to the blackened trunk. I needed to put my hands on this tree—even though it wasn’t allowed. Something would happen if I touched it, I just knew it. Unconsciously, I started toward the majestic giant sequoia before a gentle squeeze pulled me back.
    “Later,” Jaren murmured, as he squinted at me out of the corner of his eye.
    I caught the way he was looking at me, askance, like he was focusing on my energy. Maybe that was how he seemed to know what I was thinking. I wondered what colors I was putting out.
    Jaren practically had to drag me away from the tree as we continued on the path to observe the other redwoods. Each tree felt a little different, and the energy was less intense than that of the big one—The Grizzly Giant. I could stay here all day, tuning into the different sensations each tree evoked.
    I was starving by the time we stopped for a snack break. After all, I had skipped breakfast and gone flying with a raven. I glanced at Jaren, wondering if I should tell him about the raven and the seed. Would he think I was crazy or would he be able to explain it to me? Somehow I knew the latter was more likely to be true. Jaren pulled two apples and some cheese out of his pack and offered some to me. I was desperate for cookies but I had eaten the ones from the buffet on the bus. Fruit equals sugar. Gratefully, I took the apple and our fingers brushed. I felt that same tingly jolt that seemed to constantly unnerve me around him, and I jerked my hand out of reach.
    “Sorry,” he said. “Sometimes I forget to rein it in.”
    I felt my cheeks heat up at my reaction to his unexpected touch. Real cool, Ever, I chastised myself. I heard our chaperone say that we had the rest of the morning to explore the grove, but we had to be back on the shuttle by two o’clock. Dara and Naomi looked winded as they trudged up to the fallen log we were sitting on. Dara’s cute sweater was dusty, and her perfectly straightened hair was starting to frizz at the temples.
    “Um, hey, Everleigh,” Dara said, her voice high and…nervous? Was she actually nervous?
    “Hey,” I replied, sounding calmer than I had a right to be. I mean, I was sitting here next to Jaren Wilder, sharing his snack with him, after holding his hand for practically the entire hike. How could I possibly act like this was in any way normal? We looked like were togethe r or something. This was so not okay—and Val was going to kill me.
    As the negative thoughts registered, I felt myself flush a little. The sheen on the trees and plants seemed to fade. I felt heavier and unsure of myself. Like a crumpled ragdoll, I slumped on the log as reality set in. There was no way any of this was happening. I was a total freak. I didn’t have the blond hair,