Derive Read Online Free PDF Page A

will be tragic. The Allurest have established dreams and life plans for him that will emerge in signs, places, and people. If he were to be pulled back before the three-day grace period, those lessons and prophecies will perish. The ambiance of emptiness will forevermore haunt him, along with a gnawing urge to return. And if—or rather when—he returns to find that missing piece, he will struggle far more than a soul that followed a clear path. To say the least, he will recognize and be drawn to souls, yet rarely for the reason he needs to be. ”
    Sebastian glanced to his father, only receiving a calm stare in return. “Let him be,” Sebastian responded after an obvious pause.
    I was only vaguely following this conversation. My stare was on Camlin. He was far too interested in the risk of pulling someone back before their time. He had managed to take in a lesson that I had shielded from him. I didn ’t want him to know any dynamic of The Fall.
    “Very well, Seneca,” Tarek said with a nod to Sky. “Dismissed,” he said to the men with me.
    Seneca gracefully approached Sky. Sky clenched my arm, not sure what was about to happen.
    “Seneca is going to find you warm clothes, food.”
    “Where will you be?” she asked with a trembling breath.
    “I will find you soon,” I whispered as my gaze drank in every part of her. The very sight of her sent shock waves of life through my soul. I had never felt so awake, so aware.
    Seneca approached her and bowed. “I will ensure you are at his side once you have gathered yourself.”
    I raised my brow at that. I was planning on arguing my way to see her. Even though Tarek had stated that Sky could not hide anything from Seneca or me, I doubted he meant that I would be alone with her, or at her side. It would be rude to place someone this vulnerable near anyone outside the gentle care of the Allurest, especially near a warrior like me.
    Clearly doubtful, Sky slowly let her arm fall from mine and bowed her head as she walked at Seneca’s side.
    Each step she took away from me brought a painful ache to every part of me. I didn ’t understand it. The emotions and feelings in my soul made no sense at all. I was masking it well, though. I had no doubt that on the outside I looked angry—put out, to say the least.
    I played out that emotion then turned and left the room, walking hastily toward my post. I didn ’t bother to acknowledge Sebastian or even Tarek as I did so.
    The shore only had a few of The Selected guarding the barrier. Between The Fall openings, this was a place of serenity, a place where those like me could gaze forward and take in lessons from a distance.
    I went straight to Guardian’s crest, which was molded into the marble. My gaze followed his vim. He’d made it. A slow sigh escaped my lips. I don’t know that I would have forgiven myself if Guardian had been harmed. His spoken path to abolish fear was still ringing in my thoughts, and an action like that would bring light to that side, more balance; it would get people like Camlin off my back.
    Oddly, that ice circle was still spinning in the emerald sea, not getting larger or smaller. Even stranger, it was not spinning with water, but on top of lapping waves, almost as if a breath of air were suspending it somehow.
    I glanced to my side to see if anyone else had noticed this. It didn’t seem to be causing alarm; those on shore were focused on tracking Guardian at this point.
    I did notice my pupil Cashton in the distance, gazing at The Fall. He seemed just as torn and confused as I was. It would not be long before his time came to cross those borders. Even though I had worked with him over and over, I doubted he was truly ready. Cashton seemed to look too far ahead, and the lessons on how to flow, how to avoid the pitfalls and traps of death were lost on him. Not because he was unwise, but because, like I said, his gaze was often not of the troubled waters, but more so what was beyond them. Good