Fearless by Marianne Curley Read Free Book Online

chokes her up. She brings her hands to her mouth. ‘Oh my God! Oh my God! ’
    I take her hands and pull her close, wrapping my arms around her. Over her head I stare at Thane. ‘What happened? Why couldn’t you save her? Did you use your powers?’
    â€˜I used everything I have,’ he says.
    Michael explains. ‘We walked into a trap. Nathaneal sh elte red Ebony with a protective shield but they ambushed us, kept his team from reaching them in time.’
    â€˜He pulled her out of my wings,’ Thane says, as if he can’t believe it himself.
    â€˜Shit. Shit!’
    â€˜We gave chase, but the gates came down between us.’
    â€˜She’s really gone?’
    â€˜Yes,’ he says, his face bleak, eyes glassy and dazed.
    â€˜I still don’t understand one thing. Why aren’t you in Skade right now looking for her? What are you doing here?’
    â€˜Jordan,’ he says in a voice that’s so empty it doesn’t even sound like his any more, ‘I will explain everything soon, but for now there is work to be done.’
    â€˜ Work? What work? What can be more important than rescuing Ebony? You know, as soon I heard that you were with her, I thought, That’s it. She’s safe now.’ I hear the tremor in my voice and give myself a shake. ‘I really believed that you would find a way to get her back. I thought you loved her enough to do anything to save her.’
    â€˜Jordan, I understand you’re hurting. This is killing me too.’
    I need him to stop talking. To stop giving me excuses. I run at him to punch him in the face as hard as I can, but he grabs both my wrists and holds them out to the sides, so I yell instead, ‘But you don’t get to die, do you?’
    Behind me I hear Amber choking on sobs. I glance back and see Isaac helping her up from the ground where she must have tumbled after I let her go. I’d forgotten I was holding her. Damn! She draws in a trembling breath. Her eyes are liquid and draining out of her. She’s swimming in pain. Ebony was Amber’s best friend. They were like sisters. And now they will never see each other again. I understandAmber’s pain. It cuts into me, makes me even angrier with Thane. My lips curl and my voice makes a vicious snarling sound like an attack dog.
    I step back and he releases my fists, and before thinking the thought, I charge at his gut with my head.
    Before I make contact he grabs both of my shoulders. ‘Are you trying to break your neck?’
    â€˜I hate you for being so strong I can’t even hit you.’
    â€˜Listen to me, Jordan, you’ll only hurt yourself if you try. Last time you hit me you broke five fingers. Remember?’
    â€˜I hate you! And d’you know why? Because you did th is t o me. You should have just let me die like I was supposed to that day Skinner bottled me in the gut. You promised that my life would get better, and all you’ve brought me since is pain and anguish. And if I hadn’t found Ebony for you, she’d still be here!’
    He grabs my arms. Looking me in the face, he pushes my jacket sleeves up above the burns. ‘Who did this to you?’
    Yanking my arms free, I stumble backwards. Thane probes my mind, but I scramble fiercely. He peers at me with a penetrating look of remorse. ‘I’m sorry, Jordan.’
    I hold my wrists up and yell, ‘These are nothing. Just tell me why you bothered to come back here when you don’t have her? Why aren’t you in Skade right now rescuing her?’
    He takes a deep breath. ‘He sealed the gates … for … for …’
    Isaac finishes when he can’t, ‘A hundred years.’
    Amber gasps. ‘Oh my God !’ She bursts into tears and runs into the forest.
    â€˜Amber! Amber, wait up!’ She doesn’t stop. I turn back toask Thane, ‘Can’t you open them?’
    He exchanges a look with Michael.