Chapter 11
Savagely Bound
Harsh lights glare against us through the fine hairs of the dark, and Hale shields his eyes with his arm while yelling to the men hiding behind the spotlights.
“I’m Hale Banner. I’m here to see Gabe… er, I mean Garth.”
“You have a full blood with you,” one objects. “No full bloods cross the threshold of our sanctuary.”
“It’s fine, go in without me,” Brazen murmurs softly while staring fearlessly into my violet eyes.
“No. Gabe trusts me. If he sees me savage and you still breathing, he’ll know you’re no threat to him. Besides, the hybrids are the ones to fear above anyone else right now.”
I turn to face the wall, and then I yell out, “Tell Garth Araya is here to speak to Gabe.”
The gates instantly open upon hearing my words, and Gabe walks out with his robe tied tightly. His tired, squinted eyes show the lack of sleep he has suffered, and I’m worried something else has happened since we left.
“Araya, what’s the meaning of this? You know I can’t allow a full blood to-”
He stops short when his eyes become astonished by mine. His mouth claps open and shut in disbelief,. He looks back and forth between Brazen and me and then Hale.
“She’s savage right now. How in the hell is she savage but not violent? How is she savage next to a full blood?” he gushes.
“It’s a long story, but as you can see, if my savage state allows Brazen to live and breathe so close to me, he can be trusted. We need you to trust us, and you’re going to want to hear what I have to say about Ty… the man behind the mask.”
His even more startled self takes a step back as if he’s trying to assess what is really going on. He still seems shocked by my tolerance for a full blood, and he walks toward the gates to speak to the men awaiting his orders.
“He’s okay… she trusts him,” he says, uncertain of how those words are actually coming out of his own mouth.
“He’s full blood,” one objects.
“She’s savage. Do you think he’d be alive if she didn’t trust him,” he snaps, and they all look at each other in the same astonishment I’ve witnessed for most of the ride over here.
Headlights flash from behind, and I see Angelica rushing over to me as she hops out of the passenger seat. She stumbles when her eyes fall on my dilated pupils, and I see a glimpse of fear pass over her.
“It’s okay, Angelica,” I say to calm her fears, and now her bemusement exudes as well. I turn back to Gabe to continue with, “This is my sister. I told you about her when I saw you last. Grayson is her counter.”
He still seems confused about how to proceed. I’m not sure if he’s scared of my savage - which he’s witnessed the power of before when I was merely in phase one and leveling Cheyenne’s surface - or if he’s questioning whether he can trust Brazen and the others as well.
“Considering our last encounter with a human/hybrid, I think I can adjust my normal rules. I’m assuming that’s what this is about,” he murmurs while ushering us all in. “The new hybrids?”
Clay pulls Symphony from the car and holds her bridal style while walking toward the gates. Gabe’s eyes widen when he sees her limp body, and he looks back to me.
“She could kill us all,” he panics.
“Not with me like this. I’m stronger. I know that with certainty,” I say to comfort his mind. “That’s why I’m holding savage.”
“I’ve never seen this like this before,” he mutters while inspecting my eyes closer. “You should be tearing apart the lands right now, not calmly speaking to me without even a flicker of menace.”
“None of us have ever seen anything like it. I need a place to start operating on Symphony before she wakes up. We can discuss everything in there while I work. I’ll need Araya to be there in case she wakes up.”
Gabe surrenders his tongue and silences his questions while leading us to the lab. I stagger slightly, and I feel myself losing my controlled grip over my savage. Hale looks to Brazen who is getting sized up by all the natives, and then Angelica tugs the full blood’s hand while rushing over to a vendor stand. I’m pleased when they return with a canteen full of water, and a sandwich meant for a giant.
“Thanks,” I murmur appreciatively, and Hale scoops me up to carry me while I eat to keep me from exerting even more energy.
Please let me hold on a little while longer. Please, please, please.
“I don’t even know what to say. It’s all so surreal. A pregnant hybrid, Ungifted hybrids unlocking the secrets of the gifted, and the torture of our people by one of our own on a madman’s quest. Not to mention a full blood standing freely next to a strong, gifted, and phase three savage hybrid,” Gabe murmurs while gripping his head.
