Tempt_The Pteron Chronicles Read online

  “Sit.” He flicked his tail in the direction of the other stump. “I have the clear impression someone is about to betray you.”

  “Someone who is here with us?” Great. That was all I needed. If I couldn’t trust our assembled group, who could I trust? I thought over the list of people. Troy was the most likely. Had he cut a deal to get his fire back? No. I stopped that line of thought. I couldn’t start playing the blame game. That wouldn’t end well for anyone.

  “Maybe. Maybe not. I don’t know.” Glendale still looked like a cat, but I’d stopped thinking of him as one. Even with his purely feline mannerisms there was something otherworldly about him I hadn’t previously noticed—an aura that surrounded him that made it seem impossible I’d ever mistaken him for a regular cat before.

  “Very helpful.” I sat down on the surprisingly comfortable tree stump. “Well, then there is nothing I can do short of going into this alone.”

  “That’s dangerous too. Besides, we both know how that is going to go over. with the others.” He turned toward the group waiting. They were all watching us while doing their best to pretend they weren’t.

  “Then what do you suggest? Why are you telling me this?” In theory I appreciated the heads up, but not if I couldn’t use the information.

  He looked straight into my eyes. “You need to trust yourself.”

  “As compared to what I normally do?” I had plenty of flaws. I didn’t always think things through. I said things I probably shouldn’t. I could be pushy, judgmental and plenty more, but I had confidence. I knew I was strong and capable. I didn’t need others to reassure me of that.

  “As compared to the way you doubt yourself. I like you, Hailey, but that is one part of you I do not.” He licked his paw.

  “I’ve never been told I lack confidence. In fact, I’m often told the opposite.” What was he getting at?

  “Because of the facade you put on. You can’t hide that from me.”

  A chill ran up and down my spine.

  “You may want us all to think you are confident, but you doubt yourself constantly. You question whether you’ve earned your position within The Society and whether you do enough to pull your weight. You are doubting yourself right now, questioning whether you are up for this challenge.”

  I said nothing. I didn’t want to consider his words. “Let’s talk about you instead. Why are you so focused on what you think I feel right now?”

  “Because I know what you feel. I can nearly taste it.” His nose twitched.

  “Why do you suddenly have all these new abilities?”

  He looked away. “Now isn’t the time.”

  “When is the time?” I was tired of questions constantly being pushed off. What if there was no later? Ugh. Now that he’d put the idea of a lack of confidence in my head I couldn’t stop fixating on it. He was going to destroy me.

  “Hailey, darling.”

  “Uh oh.” It was never good when someone uses a pet name, especially when they normally don’t. Especially when they’re a demon.

  “Yes, Glendale?”

  “Do you remember the last time we saw each other?”

  “Yes. Of course.” One doesn’t often forget meeting talking cats and surviving run-ins with crazy powerful creatures.

  “Then you remember I didn’t leave alone.”

  “Glendale…” I changed my mind. I wasn’t sure I wanted to know. He’d left with a girl named Taylor. Well, not a girl, she was actually years older than she looked, and she wasn’t quite human, but that didn’t matter. He’d left with her.

  “I don’t have time to tell you anything, but I had no choice. It was either her or me, and I chose me. None of that matters. What matters is I understand what it’s likely to develop new abilities later in life.”

  “Wait. You ate her soul, didn’t you?” When seeing Glendale as a ball of fur it was often easy to forget he was a demon- at least it was before his strange aura appeared—but that was exactly what he was.

  “As I said, it was her or me.” He watched me, unblinkingly.

  I buried my head in my hands. “I can’t even handle this.”

  “Why do you think I told you now wasn’t the time?”

  “Fine. Then why tell me? To try to act like you have any clue what I’m going through?”

  “I should tell you she wasn’t my only soul recently.”

  “Glendale!” I screamed. I didn’t want to know the demon I was trusting with my life and the life of my friends had recently eaten the souls of multiple creatures.

  Wyatt and Eloise came running over.

  “See? See what you did?” Glendale sighed. “Silly, girl. And yes I said girl. I am going to call you a girl for having that ridiculous reaction.”

  “Ridiculous reaction? Are you kidding me?” My heart rate accelerated, and I could practically feel my blood boiling.

  “Are you okay?” Eloise looked me over. “What did he do to you?”

  Glendale laughed maniacally. “Why do you assume I did something?”

  “Because she screamed your name like bloody murder.” Wyatt put a hand on my arm. I was glad he was there, but now I had to worry he was in danger. Maybe the creature I shouldn’t have put my trust in was the only one who had the power to get us back to the maze.

  “We were having a pleasant enough conversation. You two can leave now.” Glendale flicked his paw as if to shoo them off.

  “No.” Eloise raised her chin. “As Hailey’s Guardian Pixie I cannot leave her in peril.”

  “I’m fine, but you guys can stay. We need to get going anyhow.” Maybe I should have demanded more answers about the souls, but what good would that have done? It would have thrown me off more, upset and worried me. Strong emotions may have been helpful to access my new abilities, but not if they made it impossible to concentrate.

  “Ok. But remember what I said. Oh, and I’m not hungry.” Glendale smiled. “Don’t worry.”

  “What is he talking about?” Wyatt asked. “Why would she think you were hungry… I know you aren’t talking about cat food.”

  “Nothing you need to know right now.” I glared at Glendale. “He’s going to behave.”

  “You have so many interesting powers, Hailey.”

  My once boiling blood now ran cold. “Is that a threat?”

  “Of course not… of course not. I like you guys. Remember?”

  A whirl of wind picked up, followed by a bright flash of light. Really? That’s how he was going to play this? To drop us off right away? I reached out for Wyatt, wanting to make sure we ended up in the same place when Glendale dropped us off. As we swirled around I thought over Glendale’s admission, but I didn’t get much time to digest it before we landed hard on the stone floor.

  The dungeon was just as cold and musty as when we left. And as dark. Even with my new Lightness vision the darkness was uncomfortable. At first I could only see shapes and shadows, but as my eyes adjusted the surroundings came more into focus.

  “Ow.” Cade’s voice echoed off the stone walls as he rubbed his back and pulled himself to his feet. “That never gets easier. I’m actually pretty sure it gets worse.”

  “I happen to agree with you.” I stretched as I stood up, trying to ignore the ache in my joints. Wyatt followed my lead. “But we’re back here. That’s the important part.”

  “Do you have any better idea of what you’re doing this time?” Troy stared in my general direction from across the narrow passage.

  “Of what I’m doing? How about what you’re doing? You are the only royal among us.” I wasn’t sure why I said it—antagonizing someone when in an already challenging situation wasn’t the wisest thing I could have done, but I’d done plenty of unwise things in my life.

  Troy stiffened. “I wasn’t aware you wanted my assistance.”

  “Of course I want your assistance. We all need to work together on this.”

  “Then you should try to fly up and see if there’s any light beyond this corridor. It’s possible
some of the walls don’t reach all the way to the ceiling. It’s a maze so not every corridor will be the same.”

  “Fly? Down here?” I shuddered. The walls were close enough without my giant wings sticking out.

  “You’re the only one who can see. Otherwise I would do it.” He leaned up against the wall and looked in my direction. For someone who couldn’t see he was giving a rather pointed look.

  “Ok. It’s worth a shot.” I didn’t love the idea of releasing my wings down there with such little room, but maybe Troy had a point. I stepped as far away from the others as I could before I released my wings. I savored the feeling of power that engulfed me as I transformed into my Pteron form. For a moment I forgot where I was and just how far away the sky was.

  I held onto that feeling as I let my feet leave the ground. I flew up to the ceiling, trying to pretend at any moment I could break through the ceiling. Maybe I could, but that wasn’t going to help us. Not until we found Hunter and Anastasia and figured out why I was so fixated on burrowing underground.

  We were in a long narrow corridor. There were tall stone walls at either end of the corridor. I remembered what Glendale said about there being spells that could confuse my physical senses, i.e. sight. I looked back and forth until I saw something out of the corner of my eye. I blinked a few times, and it was still there. The faintest flicker of light off in the distance. But how? Last time I checked I couldn’t see through stone walls. I looked back and forth another few times for good measure before landing back down on the stone floor. I retracted my wings, wanting as much space from the walls as possible.

  “See anything?” Wyatt asked.

  “I saw a faint light, but I don’t see how as there are stone walls at both ends of this corridor.”

  “A Lightness can always find the light.” There was awe in Wyatt’s voice. “That’s what it must be. You’re seeing a light from beyond.”

  “So what does that mean for us? I break through that wall even though we don’t know what’s waiting on the other side?”

  “If you saw it as light, it’s good.” Troy’s footsteps were loud and heavy as he walked toward us.

  “How so?” I was wary as I waited for his response. Was it going to be a joke? An insult?

  “I forget. You know nothing.”

  “I didn’t even know there was a creature called a Lightness until recently, so yes, I know nothing about any of this. Okay? Is that settled? Explain, please.” I was beginning to think I should wear a sign around my neck that read, uneducated in matters of the supernatural. To think I’d been raised right alongside one of the most powerful supernatural societies in existence.

  “You can see things in terms of dark and light. Good and bad, so to speak.” Troy rubbed his eyes. “It also means you should be able to see through the spells. You should be able to start seeing the truth in everything.”

  “That’s impossible—” I stopped myself. I remembered the aura around Glendale that had been absent the first time I met him but was growing stronger now. Was that from the souls he ate, or was it me? Was it another side-effect of the Lightness inside me?

  “You’ve seen things?” Troy pressed. “Is that why you fell silent? You don’t seem to stop talking very often.”

  “Shut up, Troy.” Wyatt conveniently gave the answer I would have.

  “Fine. So that’s the plan? We follow the light? If it was so simple, why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

  “Because you never saw the light earlier… did you?” He turned his back to us as he spoke. Maybe it didn’t matter because he couldn’t see anything anyway.

  “Then how did you know I’d see it now?”

  “I’m guessing Wyatt has something to do with it,” Eloise spoke in barely more than a whisper.

  “Okay. Let’s go.” I wasn’t going to let the conversation turn to the topic of my personal life with Wyatt. Been there and done that.

  I started down the corridor.

  “Would you mind turning on your light?” Eloise asked quietly. “That is if it’s not too difficult.”

  “Oh. Sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”

  “Convenient,” Troy said under his breath.

  I ignored him. Instead I thought of my light. I’d barely started to focus on it when I started to glow.

  “Well, you’ve learned fast.” Cade grinned. “Nice job, Wyatt.”

  “Why are you thanking him?” I examined my glowing arms and torso. I wasn’t sure if I would ever get used to watching myself glow. “Wait. Forget it. Don’t say anything.”

  Cade chuckled. “Not a fast learner when it comes to understanding that kind of innuendo, are you?”

  “Nope.” I turned and started walking again. I had no idea what was going to be waiting for us through the wall, but I could only hope it would be the right direction to find Hunter and Anastasia. I hadn’t dared call out their names yet. Besides, I was pretty sure that wasn’t going to help. The sound was all messed up down there.

  We reached the wall, and I put my hands on it. I closed my eyes and instantaneously they heated up. Just as quickly the heat sensation faded away.

  Someone whistled and I opened my eyes.

  There was a hole in the wall where the palms of my hand had just been. “Maybe we didn’t need my light to break those down. They moved so easily this time.”

  “They moved easily because of you. If it felt easy, then you’re coming into your Lightness.” Eloise beamed. “I wonder if you are the first Lightness-Pteron hybrid? If you are then I’d be the first Guardian Pixie for one.”

  Cade and Wyatt pulled away the stones from around the hole to create a larger opening for us to step through.

  “I still don’t know… that seemed way too easy. What about the spells?”

  “They are dark spells. Light is more powerful than dark.” Eloise spoke so simply, yet there was a weight to her words. I wished I could actually believe them, but I’d faced enough darkness in my life to understand it had a power that shouldn’t be underestimated.

  I looked ahead.

  “Do you see anything?” Wyatt asked.

  “Don’t you guys see that faint glow down there?” I pointed through the opening in the wall.

  “Not at all, but that doesn’t mean you don’t see it.” Wyatt put his hand on my shoulder.

  “I guess you’re used to this.” I stepped over what was left of the center of the wall, assuming everyone would follow.

  “Me?” Wyatt caught up with me on the other side. “Yeah. My mom had that ability.”

  “She’s beautiful. Or was. Sorry.” I struggled to find the right words. Losing your mother couldn’t be easy—I wasn’t sure how I was going to handle it when I lost mine. But I couldn’t go there. Not yet.

  “I’m glad you met her. She was an incredible woman. I’m glad she knows about you, and she knows I found someone as amazing and beautiful as you.”

  “It wasn’t really her. Just a message…” Troy kicked a piece of rock as he trailed behind us.

  “But it was like I met her. It felt just like it.” The experience was like nothing I’d ever experienced before. I knew I’d never forget it.

  “Maybe we should call her Princess Leia—because it looked like one of those old-school holograms like in A New Hope.”

  “She sent it with energy.” Wyatt seemed thoughtful. “That’s the only way she could do it from beyond the grave.”

  “This is all great and exciting, but we do have two others to look for.” Cade shrugged. “Just going to be the realist here.”

  “Yes, we do.” I walked forward toward the light. We fell into silence with only the sound of our footsteps echoing down the hall. I wrapped my arms around my chest as a cold breeze whipped around us. “Do you guys feel that?”

  “Yes,” Eloise spoke from directly behind me. “Let me go first, Hailey.”

  “No way.” I shook my head. “Stay behind me.”

  “I’m your Guardian—”

  I interrupted her before she co
uld go any further. “I know what you are, but that doesn’t mean you’re going first.”

  “I’m going first.” By the expression on Wyatt’s face, I knew there was no arguing with him. Maybe the wind was nothing, but until we knew what it was we were up against we had to tread carefully. That was a lot easier to do when you were following a guy who could turn into a dragon. Now that the worry about him getting stuck or controlled by Veronica was gone, I was really starting to like his new form.

  There was a low guttural growl from somewhere far off.

  “What was that?” Eloise whispered.

  “I have no idea.” And I didn’t particularly want to know. The last time we heard something strange it turned out to be Wyatt as a dragon. I couldn’t imagine we’d get so lucky again.

  “The rest of you stay back.” Wyatt was looking directly at me. “I will go forward and see what happens.”

  “Only you can’t see. Right? If I’m not with you?” I linked my arm through his. “We go together.”

  “I love that you aren’t telling him to stay back.” Cade laughed. It fell hollow as another growl echoed.

  “Because we work well as a team.” We did, and considering I didn’t know what I was facing, I far preferred doing it with Wyatt at my side.

  “Really?” Eloise pursed her lip. “Again? You’re going to try to shake me again?”

  “I’m not shaking you. I’m being strategic. If we meet something bad, something really bad, I’m going to need you ready to help.” I wanted to tell her to run if that happened, but I understood that wasn’t going to happen. She felt bound by her job, and I could relate. Besides, I wasn’t sure there was anywhere to run to in this crazy place.

  “Ready?” Wyatt met my gaze.

  Another growl rose up from somewhere far off. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”

  I couldn’t be sure the others were hanging back, but I couldn’t let that worry me. If there was some sort of crazy monster in this maze, then finding Hunter and Anastasia was that much more important.

  Another growl pierced the air. I tried to place the sound—connect it with something, anything I’d experienced before. I came up completely blank, which lead me to believe this might end up being yet another creature no one bothered to tell me about.