Wilde's Army by Krystal Wade Read Free Book Online

Brit and me, I can only imagine how awful losing someone while connected to them mentally would be. “Was her name Cairine?”
    Mom jumps at the name. “Yes, but how—?”
    I wrap my arms around her. “Arland told me he and Cairine used to keep in contact, but he hadn’t heard from her recently.”
    “I forgot how close the two of them were,” she says into my shoulder.
    “My sister was the last telepath in The Meadows. I’m sure without her, everyone there is worried.”
    Pulling out of our embrace, I glance at the two shifters. “I was in Brit’s mind not long before I got here … what happened to the real Brit and Arland?”
    Mom gasps. “They were taken away.”
    “Are they a-alive?” I ask, clenching my hand around the hilt of my sword.
    “Yes, but we have to find them, Kate. They may not have time.”
    “So, what do we do with them?” I point at the shifters.
    She turns toward them and scowls. “Kill them.”
    “You don’t want to do that,” Brit’s shifter says, green eyes big and honest just like my sister’s.
    “Oh, I do,” I say.
    Brit’s imposter smiles a broad, sinister smile. “If you kill us, you will never find the two you love.”
    I look at my mom, hope sinking to my feet.
    “I don’t know, Kate,” she says.
    Closing my eyes again, I lower my head.
Griandor, please help me
.
    Along the ground, two black pulsing bands stretch from the daemons in front of us and out of the cave.
    “Keep watch,” I tell Mom, turning away from the imposters.
    “Cadman, Flanna, come with me.”
    Cadman and Flanna stop talking to the other soldiers and follow. Keeping my eyes closed, I track the bands outside.
    “Kate, I know
we
are not the ones you were looking for, but can you at least look at me?” Flanna asks in her sarcastic tone, but there’s something more to it. Something uneasy.
    “We don’t have time, Flanna. I need you and Cadman to lead me around any obstacles. I’m following bands of—I don’t even know what they are. I’m just following something stretching out of those two daemons, and I’m hoping it’s going to lead to Arland and Brit.” I step on a large stone and roll my ankle, nearly losing my balance.
    Flanna takes hold of my arm with a clammy hand. “Sounds like a plan.”
    “I would feel safer if I had a sword,” Cadman says.
    I hold out my claymore for him.
    “Thank you.”
    “You’re welcome. If either of you sees anything, protect yourselves first; I can handle myself if something comes my way.”
    Flanna puts her left hand on my right shoulder. Judging by the echo of boots, Cadman walks behind me. The bands stretch down in front of us. Opening my eyes, I see we have to descend the rocks leading to the river.
    We move at a slow pace, placing each foot carefully in front of the other. Jagged stones crash down the steep cliff side, cracking as they tumble to the bottom.
    Flanna slides a couple of feet and lands on her butt. “Did we really need to come this way?”
    “We’re almost there … just a few more steps.”
    We jump onto solid ground, earth thudding under our feet.
    A quick blink reveals the bands turn to the left and lead into another cave. The entry is small and dark.
    My gut tells me this is a trap.
    I point ahead of us. “The black things lead in there. I don’t have a good feeling about this, but I don’t know what else to do.”
    “I say we follow the only clues we have,” Flanna says.
    “I agree with Flanna, but you are correct, this does seems strange.” Cadman doesn’t look at me. He’s on guard, searching in all directions for danger.
    “You guys stay here. With only the one sword, if something is in there, you will be unable to protect yourselves. I’ve got magic on my side.”
    Flanna and Cadman exchange a worried look.
    “Kate, are you sure it is a good idea to go by yourself?” she asks.
    “I will be fine,” I tell her. “Cadman, keep her safe.”
    He nods.
    “Don’t come looking for me, if I don’t come