Successor Read online

  “Not at all.” She doesn’t look convinced and I sigh. “Maybe a little.”

  “Do you not trust him?”

  “He saved my life. It would be in poor taste not to.”

  “Then what has you uneasy?”

  My shoulders pull up, sticking in place. “He’s just very…tense.” Frowning, I add, “And curt. We haven’t gotten off on the best foot.”

  An understanding smile replaces her frown. “It has always been his way, though he means no ill by it, I assure you.” She reaches across the table and places a hand over mine. “Do not worry. Your safety is his main concern.”

  “I bet. The clan’s main weapon needs to be kept intact, right?”

  She frowns and pulls back, a reply on her lips when a rough voice interrupts.

  “It’s hard to eavesdrop when I don’t understand a word you’re saying.”

  “Lei.” I sigh in relief, sinking next to the bed and putting a hand on her arm. “How do you feel?”

  “Lousy.” She laughs, weak, and grunts as she shifts on the bed. “And out of the loop. What have I missed?”

  Chapter Eight

  “Tell me you’re joking.” Leila gapes at me from where she’s propped up in bed.

  My head hurts from explaining everything to her—or trying to, anyway. I pick at the dried mud coating my pants. “Nope.”

  “And you believe them?”

  “I saw it myself, Lei.”

  “Moving plant arms?” She scoffs. “Whatever they are, they’re probably toxic. I bet the whole thing was a hallucination.”

  “What possible reason would they have for that?”

  “I-I don’t know.” She stumbles over her words. “Maybe they’re trying to scam you.”

  “For what? They’re not selling anything, and it’s pretty obvious money doesn’t exist here.”

  “Some people will do anything to rip off others,” she insists, her expression wary. “For all you know, they could be draining your bank account right now.”

  I give her a droll look. “We both know that would be pointless.”

  “Okay fine, so maybe they’re not after money.” She rolls her eyes. “But who knows what these people are capable of? They could follow some creepy religion that requires sacrifices—or weird rituals with goats.” She shudders.

  “Seriously? That’s where your head goes with this?”

  “This place is probably some kind of cult.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” I admonish. “These people aren’t a threat to us.”

  “So says the person who almost had her face chopped off today.”

  “I told you, that was an outlander.” She opens her mouth to argue and I say, “If it wasn’t for them, you would be a lot worse off than you are now.”

  As crappy as she must feel, it’s not enough to keep her from giving me a full-force scowl. “Why are you so willing to trust them?”

  My eyes close of their own volition, and a drained sigh seeps out. I’d expected her skepticism, but hacking away at it is getting frustrating. I have enough crap to deal with already. A few long seconds pass in silence as I run my fingers through my hair and meet her gaze. “I owe them my life. If it wasn’t for Ren, I would’ve died in the woods today. And this place”—I gesture around the hollow—“there’s something about it. I don’t know what it is, but I feel like…”

  “Like what?”

  Her tone earns my glare. “Like I’m supposed to be here. Now, with these people.”

  “Based on what? Because some vision showed you your mom as one of them?”

  “It’s more than that.”

  Her frown refuses to clear, her pinched brows rising.

  “Being here, after everything I’ve learned…and despite what happened earlier in the woods—” I’m at a loss for words for something this big. All I can do is shake my head. “As crazy as this entire situation is, being here feels right.” Even if the reason terrifies me.

  “Again, coming from the person who almost took an axe to the face today.”

  “Could you please trust me on this?”

  Her eyes widen a fraction. “Are you forgetting they were ready to kill us last night?”

  “Things are different now.” Understatement.

  “You mean the whole bonder/elemental thing? In what world does that explanation make any kind of sense?”

  “This one.”

  Her mouth hangs open, but no words come out. “You’re not going to listen to me on this, are you?”

  I lean forward, my elbows on my knees. “Trust me. Please.”

  Her wary expression turns resigned, and she closes her eyes, searching for patience from the looks of it. With a twist and tilt of her head, she says, “Okay, let me see if I understand this insane story.” She opens her eyes and looks to the top of the hollow, counting on her fingers. “These people are saying you’re this bonder person, that you can go to other dimensions when you download the Link thing—which is trapped in the toy?” Her gaze drops to mine and her brows lift. I nod and she continues. “And once the Link gets out of the ball and goes into your head, you’ll have some kind of super power with one of nature’s elements. Does that about sum it up?”

  A glance off to the side. A shrug. “Pretty much.”

  Her frown returns, but more in consideration than wariness. “So what is the thing in the ball, anyway?”

  “The Link.” My expression mirrors hers. “I’m not sure, really. From what I understand, it’s some kind of living energy—like a spirit that’s never had a body.”

  “And you’re supposed to…like…share your brain with it?”

  “It uses the bonder as a host, but it doesn’t take over. I guess it’s like having two people living in one body.”

  “Also known as multiple personality disorder.”

  “You’re not helping.”

  She rolls her eyes. “This is ridiculous.”

  “Could you just roll with this for now? This is kind of a lot for me to take in.”

  “Roll with it? You’re being told you have to let this freaky energy thing into your head and share your body with it”—her brows rise higher than I’ve ever seen them go—“and you’re okay with that?”

  “I don’t really have a choice.” Dirt coats my knee. I scratch at it. “The connection between us has already been made. If the assimilation doesn’t complete and the Link stays in the ball, then my life will depend on keeping it safe. If anything happens to it with the Link still inside—”

  “Wait, hold up.” Alarm fills her eyes. “You’re saying because of some weird bond you have with the Link, you’ll die if the ball gets damaged?”

  I nod. “It’ll go back to where it came from—and I won’t be able to survive when the connection is severed.” Lei eyes me and I pull the ball from my bag. “I didn’t believe it at first, either. I mean, this kind of thing doesn’t happen.” The toy rests in my lap, and I trace my finger over the painted lotus flower. “But then I pictured losing it or it getting damaged. Now, the idea of being without it? I can’t imagine it.”

  Lei pales another shade, her eyes searching my face. Endless moments of silence pass, and the gravity of the situation seems to hit her. Looks of disbelief, then dismay, flit across her face before concern sets in. “Evan, please tell me you’re not serious.”

  When I say nothing, she slumps back in bed as if a weight pushed her there.

  “This is real, Lei.” The lotus’ petals are smooth under my thumb. “I’ve been a part of this unbelievable world my entire life. And I knew nothing about it.”

  She’s quiet for a minute. “Do you think your dad knows?”

  “I can’t see him not knowing something.” I set the ball on the bed next to me and lean back on my hands.

  “Maybe there’s a reason he hasn’t said anything.”

  “Maybe.” Deliberation has me biting my lip. A humorless laugh comes out in a huff. “I guess I’ll have to ask him when we get back.”

  “Any idea
when that might be?”

  “It depends on the redirection. The Link isn’t going to open another rift for us to get home until the process completes.”

  “Why did you have to come here, though? Couldn’t it have finished back home?”

  “I don’t know.” I can’t imagine what it would’ve been like having the Link in my head all of a sudden, with no idea what was happening. I cringe. “At least here I have answers.”

  Her eyes narrow, looking thoughtful. “Maybe it works like a cell tower.”

  I lift a brow, not following.

  “You know how some buildings dampen tower signals because of what they’re made of? You have to go outside to get a clear signal because the building interferes.” She shrugs. “Maybe there was too much interference back home, and you needed to come here to get a clear signal.”

  My head tips to one side as I consider the idea. “That makes perfect sense. Elementals and Links exist on this plane, but not on ours. Trying to assimilate back home might have lessened the chances of it being successful.”

  Leila pushes herself into a sitting position, leaning back against the wall. “Explains why you would’ve needed to come here, but I’m wondering why it had to happen at all. I mean, I get you inherited this elemental thing from your mom. I just don’t understand why you need the Link in the first place. Isn’t it something you should be able to just…do?”

  “I told you.” I pull my arms out from behind me and lie down, staring at the sky through the opening at the top of the hollow. “It’s how the elemental gets access to her ability. Without it, she can’t defend the clan.”

  “You mean your super power?” Her tone is cynical at best.

  I groan. “Don’t call it that. It makes me feel like a bigger freak than I already am.”

  “Parlor trick?”

  “Leila!” I let out a pleading, helpless laugh.

  “Okay, fine—ability.” I give a grudging nod and she asks, “So what do you think it’ll be?”

  “I don’t know.” The view of the simple, clear sky has me frowning at it through the hollow’s top. Why did life have to become so complicated all of a sudden?

  “There’s gotta be a way to find out.” A smile enters Lei’s voice. “Maybe you should ask Ren. He’s the half-naked, bow-and-arrow guy, right?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I’m surprised he saved you from that psycho. He was ready to shoot us both last night.”

  “He had to. It’s part of his job.”

  “He seems like an ass.”

  I open my mouth to argue but stop, a little baffled by the sudden urge to defend him. It’s true he comes off as detached, or he does to me, at least; an ass, according to Lei. But after spending part of the day with him, answering his questions, seeing the curiosity in his eyes… There’s more to him than just quiet stillness. I can feel it.

  “He’s just…misunderstood. He has a lot of responsibility here.”

  “And part of his job is protecting you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Hm. At least he’s fun to look at. And besides, once you have the Link in your head and you figure out your…ability, he won’t need to hover so much. You’ll be like a weapon, right?”

  “Something tells me there’s more to it.”

  “Like what?”

  “I don’t know. It’s just a feeling.”

  Her brows rise, and she gestures to the ball, wide-eyed. “Why don’t you ask your little buddy?”

  I make a face. “Don’t patronize.”

  “What?” She cracks a smile, trying to look innocent and failing. I scowl at her and she laughs. “Okay, then ask your Link.”

  It’s not a bad suggestion, but something tells me it’ll be pointless. Either way, it won’t hurt to try. I push myself up and grab the ball. “You’ve been listening. Is there more to the elemental’s function besides defense?”

  Answers will come…when due.

  I scoff. “Figures.”

  “What?”

  “Seems I don’t need to know yet.”

  Leila looks daggers at the ball. “What the hell? You’ll need to know at some point.”

  “Maemon warned me there are some things they won’t tell me until they’re sure of my loyalties. The Link might be doing the same thing.” I consider my options. “Maybe I can get it out of Kirahl. She’s been pretty chatty so far.”

  A small grimace etches Leila’s face. She lifts her fingers to her temples. “Well if you run into her sometime soon, can you ask if she has anything for headaches? I’ve had one since I woke up, and all this crazy talk hasn’t helped.”

  “It might be a good idea to get some food in you. You haven’t eaten since last night.”

  She glances at the table. “Is there anything here?”

  “They took everything away to make room for Kirahl’s stuff. I’ll run to the courtyard and grab something.” I pull my bag over my head and tuck the ball inside. “There’s a guard right outside. I’ll be back in a bit.”

  She nods and settles back in bed, covering her eyes with her arm.

  I head outside, and the woman standing guard turns to me. “I need to get some food for my friend.”

  At that she lets out a piercing whistle toward the village center. As I peer down the path, several people step out of their hollows and perch on the thick branches above, looking my way. Waiting.

  “This is free roam?”

  A small, understanding smile. “It is in your best interest.”

  Irritation bristles in me. “So I’ve been told.”

  When I emerge in the village center, the fire pit is aflame against the late afternoon sky, the sun nearing the tops of the trees. Where has the day gone?

  “Bonder.”

  I turn toward the voice, which belongs to a woman around Ren’s age, tall and lithe. She was in the training yard earlier, sparring with a man. She’d flipped him on his back and won the match, which seemed to come as no surprise to anyone watching.

  “Do you need assistance, Bonder?” She stops a few feet from me, clasping her hands behind her.

  “I’m looking to get some food for my friend.” My hands tuck themselves into my back pockets. “And you can call me Evan.”

  “Evan.” She nods. “I am Lasula, one of the scouts. I have been assigned to see to you.”

  “Oh.” Bet I have Kirahl to thank for this. “Well, if you could show me where I can get something to eat, that’d be great.”

  “Of course. I was told you need to bathe, as well. I will be glad to accompany you.”

  As desperate as I am to get clean, I’m not keen on having company for it. “I can’t until I have different clothes. Ryka is supposed to have them done later.”

  Her gaze shifts to something over my shoulder, and a smile creeps across her face. “It appears later has changed to now.”

  I turn and see Ryka approaching us with a pile of material in her hands. She stops a few feet from us.

  “The clothes you requested.” She offers the stack to me, and I reach for it.

  “Wow. That was quick. Thank you.”

  Without a word, she nods and turns around, walking toward the path leading to her hollow.

  I look to Lasula, uncertain. “I get the distinct impression she doesn’t like me.”

  “It has been her way since she was a child. Our mother was not fond of it.”

  “You’re sisters?”

  She smiles and gestures to the stack in my arms. “Now that you have clothes, I recommend you bathe before getting food.” She leans toward me and whispers, “Your presence will gain less notice if you are clean and properly dressed.”

  A glance down at my torn, dirty clothes makes me grimace. I didn’t realize they were this bad. And I’m sure I don’t smell great, either. “Okay. Lead the way.”

  We cross the center to a path near the council garden, one Ren said leads to the serenity pool. The path weaves through the large banyans, their hanging roots pulled aside and secured to keep the wa
y from being overgrown. A breeze drifts through the trees, ruffling the canopy overhead and allowing ripples of sunlight through the shadowed woods. It reminds me of lying under a tree with my eyes closed, letting the sun flicker over me.

  When we emerge at the end of the path, I’m filled with the same awe as when I first saw the council garden. Surrounded by long-leaved plants and large, vibrant clusters of flowers in all shades, the serenity pool sits nestled at the bases of several banyans. The pool is clear, the surface rippling as water falls from three small streams twining around the trees. According to what Ren told me during my tour, there’s a river nearby where a creek splits off, its flow feeding the pool through a series of smaller streams. Three more paths access the area, no doubt leading from the main walkways snaking through the woods. No one else is here but me and Lasula.

  “What is this place used for?”

  Lasula leads me to the nearest stream. She takes the pile of clothes from my arms and sets them on the raised roots of a tree. “Ceremonies. Many come to seek peace.”

  My gaze shifts between the paths, searching. “And how often might that be?”

  “If privacy is a concern, then you may want to hurry.” Her eyes glint in amusement.

  “Great.”

  She takes out a concealed knife and cuts away my ruined shirt, keeping it from my arms. I remove the rest of my grungy clothes and step into the water. Lasula perches herself on one of the tree’s upraised roots to keep guard, scanning the paths leading into the space. She tosses me a clump of woven moss and a small yellow-orange block, which she explains is made from a combination of flowers, herbs, and seed oils. She talks as I scrub away the dirt, the smell of the block reminiscent of the dried garlands hanging in my hollow. It calms my nerves, frayed from everything that’s happened since yesterday.

  Clean and out of the pool, I sift through the clothes from Ryka. A woven top resembling a vest has a tie at the back of the neck while the front closes in a series of leather laces, the bottom falling below my navel. Lasula helps adjust the twine of the simple breechcloth I’ve donned, which falls to my knees. The sides of my legs and hips are sticking out, but the outfit is more comfortable than my own clothes.

  “Well?” I hold my arms out. “Do I pass for Laraek?”