“Well I can tell you right now, I’m not devoted to him. I’ve never even spoken to Ezra,” Archer protested, running his fingers over the mark. “Not once.”
“He could have been pretending to be me,” Thorne said quietly. “You might have met him without realizing who he was.”
“Search his memories,” I said, pulling Quill back. “If he’ll let you, search and see what you can find. If your power is renewed enough.”
Archer stepped forward. “Do it.”
Thorne hesitated. “Are you sure?”
“I’d like to know what the hell this is,” Archer answered.
Thorne’s eyes glowed golden for the flash of a second as he dove into Archer’s mind. We stood in silence, waiting.
Elowen and Thea came outside, with Boo in tow. The little dog circled their feet as they sandwiched Quill and I between them.
“Welcome home. Again,” Elowen whispered.
“Thank you.” I tried to force a smile, but it never came.
Her eyes flashed to Thorne and Archer and then to me, and I knew without her words what she was asking. Did I want him there? Should she step in? She’d always been the mother I never had. Even when she’d been quietly observing. I nodded, almost imperceptibly. She leaned a little closer. “You okay?”
“For now,” I whispered back.
Thorne and Archer’s faces changed as the magical contact between them was broken. Thorne shook his head, seeming more confused than ever. “Nothing with Ezra. But I know when it happened. And we’re done with Aeris.” He looked pointedly at Quill, whose fingers had tightened on mine. “I’m telling you right now, Aeris is not your friend. She’s the one that created the cavern in my house that you fell into.”
“What?” Thea shook her head. “That can’t be right.”
“She’s not bad,” Quill said, dropping my hand. “I know you all want to hate her but she’s not. I would know. I can feel it.”
The second she broke away from me and that peace was gone, the Remnants hissed in my mind, stealing my breath.
Tuck knelt down, keeping a distance from her but bringing himself to eye level as he held up a hand. “Aeris has spent countless lifetimes learning to manipulate the mind. She knows what to say, how to say it, when to cut off her emotions and when to let you feel them. Take my hand and let me show you.”
She hesitated, looking up at Archer of all people before she stepped forward. Archer moved to her side and Thorne’s eyes met mine. I nodded. When he’d asked about the bond between three, he meant to include Quill as well. Something in saving Quill had done this. Which hopefully meant it had nothing to do with Ezra.
She closed her fingers around Tuck’s and he smiled. “Are you ready? I’m going to show you how I can change how I am feeling. None of this is going to be real so don’t be alarmed.”
She nodded. “I’m ready.”
Neither of their faces changed as they stared at each other. You’d never know anything was happening had Quill not broken contact and stepped away.
“Do you see?”
“Can anyone do that?” she asked. “Or only good liars?”
He smiled, distorting the scar on his broad face. “You mean gods?”
“Same thing,” she said, kicking her toe in the dirt.
“I imagine people that are used to shoving away their feelings can move them around like that, and show you only what they want.” Tuck’s eyes flicked to me. “Care to try?”
“I’ll kick your ass, Tuck. God or not.”
“After a nap,” Thorne said, keeping his distance as his eyes flashed to Elowen. “I’m not even sure how you’re still standing.”
“Wait. So am I clear?” Archer asked, pulling his sleeve down to hide the Treeis mark. “We all agree that I’m not connected to the murdering ex?”
“Hey!” Thea swatted Archer’s chest. “Don’t forget some of us knew him before. He was fine. No murdering.”
