Exposed (The Broken Soul Series Book 3)

by Jenny Phillips

  Rylan noticeably stiffened. “Compared to Charles and the rest of the Council and their beliefs?”

  “That’s not the same thing.”

  “Isn’t it though?” Rylan said, mocking my earlier statement.

  Shrugging, I wiped the sand off my hands. “I guess we’ll never see eye to eye on this.”

  Rylan motioned back toward the mansion. “Maybe we should head back.”

  “I don’t know.” I walked toward the water. “The fresh air is nice.”

  Rylan’s body relaxed. He seemed eager to let go of our tension. I stopped to pick up a shell. Its sun-bleached surface warmed my skin. I thought about my next question carefully while turning the shell over and over in my hand.

  “Are you happy?”

  Rylan stopped walking. “What?”

  “I mean, are you happy with your decision to change? Are you happy with where your life is now?”

  He started walking again, joining me on my path to the water. “Oh wow. That’s kind of a heavy question.”

  “Yeah.”

  He stared off into the water, stopping just out of reach of where the waves stretched before retreating into the ocean. The sun lit the tips of his auburn hair turning them a shade of gold similar to his true eye color.

  “I have moments of happiness,” he finally replied. “Moments where things make sense.”

  “You turned your entire life,” I looked down at the seashell in my hand, “my entire life,” I mumbled before launching the empty shell into the ocean, “upside down for moments?”

  “I know that sounds bad,” his eyes slipped back to the black as he turned to face me, “but I feel like there’s something bigger here than me, or you. Something that affects every Gifted. I owe it to them to at least try.”

  “You really do believe in all of this, don’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you so sure that Stephen has the same intentions?”

  In that moment I knew I hadn’t been so far off with the compound/cult reference. That’s exactly what was happening here. At least with Rylan. Stephen had been brainwashing everyone with some altered image of the way things could be. Of what he imagined was a good selling point on a perfect reality. One where they had no weaknesses and all of the power. Only I wasn’t so trusting of my grandfather.

  Rylan shrugged. “You don’t know him like I do.”

  “That’s for sure.” I started back toward the mansion. “I don’t know him at all. Except for him sending his goons after me and, ya know, kidnapping me.”

  Rylan let a laugh slip out.

  “Yeah, hilarious.” I rolled my eyes.

  “No, it’s just when you put it like that it does sound bad.”

  “Ya think?”

  I couldn’t help but gawk at him. His cheeks flushed pink when he saw that I didn’t share his amusement.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to laugh. It’s just that we see a different man than you.”

  “Oh yeah, he seems the warm and fuzzy type.” I couldn’t fight the sarcasm.

  “I didn’t say that!” He laughed again. “He’s just passionate about what he, I mean we, believe in.”

  “Clearly.”

  I could feel his eyes on me, scrutinizing my face. The grass grew thicker as we stepped into the shadows of the looming mansion. It was beautiful and daunting at the same time. The peaks and iron accents gave it a gothic look that didn’t blend with the light, picturesque beauty of the beach. I wondered who had originally owned such a beautifully dark home so strangely placed.

  “After you.” Rylan held open a back door that had probably once been a service entrance.

  “Back to my cell.”

  Rylan grabbed my arm firmly but not rough. There was an intimacy to it. My heart skipped a little at his closeness and his now black eyes searched mine, leaving me feeling vulnerable.

  “Actually, I wanted to know if you’d like to have dinner with me tonight?”

  “Oh,” I said, a little caught off guard.

  His grip relaxed. “I just thought it might be nice for you to get out of your room, too, and talking with you has been …” He looked down to where his hand touched my skin, and even in the shadowy entrance I could see him blush. My stomach did a flip, mimicking what my heart had just done. My body betraying everything I worked to hide.

  “That sounds … good.” My voice came out shaky.

  The vines that had grown over the dirty mansion windows cast a green glow through the setting sun’s last desperate rays. I had paced so much I was surprised there wasn’t a visibly worn path. I had played my part so convincingly with Rylan that I actually felt conflicted. I was not betraying Chase by leading Rylan on. Or was I?

  Would Chase be upset that I was allowing Rylan to believe he was winning me over? Of course! But he would understand, right? He had to. If I was so sure of that then why was I beginning to doubt myself?

  A knock at the door jolted me out of my thoughts. Rylan.

  My stomach did that little flip again just as the door creaked open.

  “Hey.” He smiled shyly, “You ready?”

  I snorted. “It’s not like I have a huge wardrobe here.”

  “Yeah, sorry about that.”

  I followed him out into the hallway.

  “I’ll try to help get you some more things. Stephen just doesn’t believe in a lot of extra baggage.”

  “He doesn’t believe in baggage?” I exclaimed in disbelief at the thought of my grandfather and all of his scheming bothered by extra baggage. Obviously I knew Rylan didn’t mean the same kind of baggage, I just couldn’t help the way it sounded. Someone who had lived in secrecy for over a decade.

  “I mean literal baggage. He doesn’t like things taking too long to pack up. We have to be on the move quickly—”

  “And more clothes mean longer to escape,” I finished. “Makes sense.” I fought the urge to predictably roll my eyes again. “Well it doesn’t make sense to me, actually. None of it does. But I get where it would for someone like Stephen.” Rylan led me down the staircase. “For someone who doesn’t see the point in wasting time on family either. No ties to anything.”

  “It’s kept him hidden from the outside world this long.”

  “It’s sad though. A large chunk of your existence on the run. No real belongings. No one to love …”

  “It hasn’t been easy.”

  I had forgotten briefly that Stephen’s choices affected Rylan as well.

  “But you chose this,” I pointed out.

  He nodded as he held open the large, wooden door that led to a massive formal dining room. He pulled a chair out and motioned grandiosely for me to sit.

  “Thank you.”

  Walking around to the other side of the table he sat directly across from me.

  “And how does this work?”

  “You’ll see.” He smiled crookedly.

  Right on cue a swinging servant’s door flew open and a young boy, maybe fifteen, blurred to my side. He sat down a flute of champagne.

  “Stephen approved of me drinking?”

  Rylan gave me a funny look.

  “I mean of the frivolity of it all,” I continued. “Seems against his plan to hold me here as a hostage with only the bare necessities.”

  “Ah. Well, Stephen gives me more freedom than most and allows me to use my own judgment.” He received his own flute and gestured to it. “In this case the drink could only dull your own abilities. How could he argue with that?”

  I tilted my head in agreement.

  He raised his drink and waited for me to do the same.

  “And what are we toasting to?” I challenged.

  “Us.” He smiled that smile that was regularly making my heart skip. I clinked my glass with his and drank the bubbles in.

  Another young man came through the swinging door brandishing a silver serving tray. He sat each plate in front of us between the pre-set silverware.

  “You really went all out, didn’t you
?”

  Rylan’s face grew pink. “Well I owed you.”

  “You don’t owe me anything.”

  “Don’t I though?” He settled back in the chair for a moment, placing his hands together. “I owe you an explanation. Which I will do my best to address. I owe you a proper date, but since we can’t actually leave the premises this was the best I could do.” He waved at the salads that had been placed in front of us. “It’s probably not a full course meal but I worked with what I had and the newbies that were eager to please.”

  “Eager to please?” I asked, intrigued.

  “To get in my good graces … which later translates into Stephen’s good graces.”

  “I see,” I said, stabbing the salad with a fork. “So they’re trying to climb the ranks?” I lifted an eyebrow and took a bite.

  Rylan smiled. “Something like that.”

  After the salad, the guys replaced those plates with some sort of creamy chicken and potatoes. I’m sure it was far from restaurant quality but after this morning’s plain oatmeal it was a welcomed change. Most of the meal was filled with light banter and Rylan telling me about some of the other residents of the manor.

  Once dessert was served, I wasted no time inhaling the warm chocolate brownie. The vanilla ice cream on the side had barely any time to melt.

  Rylan watched with a delighted expression.

  “So tell me about Tessa.” I tried to sound nonchalant.

  “Nothing to tell,” he answered flippantly, but I noticed a shift in the chair as he struggled to remain comfortable.

  “Why does she seem to already hate me?”

  “Well I doubt she hates you. She doesn’t know you, does she?”

  I tilted my head, unconvinced.

  Rylan exhaled, obviously realizing I wasn’t going to let it go so easily. “You remember Raven?” he asked but more rhetorically. He knew I remembered her. It was hard to forget someone who tried to kill you.

  “Tessa and Raven are close friends.”

  Rylan must’ve noticed my own change in facial expression.

  “Don’t worry, Raven won’t be around much.”

  “Much,” I repeated before taking a large drink of the remaining champagne.

  “She won’t come near you,” Rylan said sternly.

  “Is Tessa aware of that?”

  “Tessa knows how I feel about you. She will not be a problem.” Something about the way he said it implied there was more to Tessa than just Raven’s friendship. I’d bet Tessa hated me for my connection to Rylan almost as much as me killing her best friend’s boyfriend.

  Rylan clearly wanted to change the subject so I asked an even tougher question.

  “You also said something about owing me an explanation?”

  Sighing, Rylan leaned forward on the table with his elbows propping his hands under his chin. “I do.”

  His eyes slipped to their true black color as he was lost in thought, and then managed to recover to their Glamoured amber.

  “Stephen has ideas about our world. Some really great ideas. Things that could change for the better.” He sat back in his chair again as if he were settling in for a long story. “There are things the Council doesn’t want Gifted to know. It’s almost as if they’re okay with oppressing their own people.”

  “You believe Gifted are oppressed?” I bit back my laughter.

  “I mean, not in the way you’re assuming obviously, but do you think it’s fair they keep lying about soul-mates?”

  “Lying about what?” Now he had me.

  “Everything. Did you need me to survive?”

  “Wh— Hold on, I’m confused.”

  “They told you that you survived because of your unique abilities, didn’t they?”

  It was my turn to sit back in my chair. “Well, yeah—”

  “I guess it’s partially true. I mean, it was probably easier because of your Gifts—”

  “Easier?” I couldn’t help the tone my voice had taken. “Do you have any idea how much that hurt?”

  “Yes, Morgan, actually I do.” He visibly shivered. “It affected me as much as you.”

  And that was it right there. If the Council’s theory was true, Rylan shouldn’t have survived, Stephen shouldn’t have survived … Gran shouldn’t have survived. I had moments in the past I had questioned that but not until now did it truly sink in. Any Gifted could break free.

  “But why? Why would anyone choose to lose a soul-mate? Who would benefit from that?”

  “Someone like your Gran?”

  “You didn’t know her. You don’t get to talk about her.”

  “You’re missing my point, Morgan. The soul-mate thing is just the beginning. If they’re lying to you about that, if they’re lying to everyone about that, what else are they keeping from you … from all of us?”

  “So why do it? Why did you do it?”

  “Unfortunately, it’s a part of the turning process. I don’t get to make that decision for you. That’s one you’d have to make for yourself.”

  “And the power was worth losing me?”

  “Losing you?” He grinned. “Where are you now? I haven’t lost you. If you were ever mine why wouldn’t you choose to be with me because you want to not because you have to?” He came around to my side of the table. “Don’t you see? The Council has taken the power to choose from everyone—”

  “The Council didn’t really take that choice away from us.”

  “No,” he agreed. “No, they didn’t. But by not being honest, by omitting what they knew they knowingly kept us in the dark.”

  I thought about Iris, Maggie … Nolan. How many others were out there?

  Seeing the understanding on my face Rylan went on, “They’ve got their own agenda. Maybe it doesn’t seem as dark as Stephen’s but it’s fueled by power just the same. It always is.” He took me by the hand. “Me turning only puts me on a better playing field with you.”

  I cocked my head. “How is that?”

  He rubbed the back of my hand with his thumb as Chase did. The thought only furthered my confusion.

  “Even now my power doesn’t compare to yours. But it’s stronger than before.”

  I yanked my hand back. “Do you think I care about that?”

  “No,” he admitted, the hurt on his face evident at my action.

  “I suppose you don’t. And I’d be lying myself if I didn’t admit that some of my decision was selfishness and obviously some pride.”

  I crossed my arms across my chest, stubbornly waiting for him to go on.

  “I never meant any of it to hurt you.”

  I snorted again.

  “Obviously I knew you wouldn’t come out of it unscathed,” he lowered his eyes, “but I didn’t mean it personally. I guess I never really put myself in your place. I never thought about how it may look to you. I see it now. I was selfish.”

  I looked up to see him watching my face.

  “Morgan, I’m truly sorry.”

  I opened my mouth but didn’t have any idea what to say so I just sat there expectantly.

  “For hurting you. For not reaching out to you. For putting you through so much.”

  He hesitantly pushed a section of hair behind my ear and I lowered my head.

  “I don’t know how to respond to that,” I said honestly. “I can’t say ‘that’s okay’ and pretend to put it all behind us.” Instinctively, I reached to fiddle with my locket nervously and kicked myself for not just wearing it with my ball gown. I felt so naked without it.

  “I’m not asking for that.”

  “Then what are you asking for?” I looked at him and gasped at how close it brought our faces.

  “It wouldn’t be fair to ask for your forgiveness,” he agreed. “I guess I’m only telling you this because you deserve to know the truth. I don’t expect you to ever forgive me or even understand my decision. I just hope that maybe in spite of it all we can move forward. That maybe you can give me a fair chance to show you who I really am.”
r />   I nodded in understanding.

  “Ah.” Stephen’s voice jolted me and I nearly jumped out of my chair. “There you two love birds are.” Even his smile was wicked. “I’m going to need your assistance with something, Rylan.”

  “Okay,” Rylan replied, but still had his eyes on me. He made no move to leave.

  Stephen’s red eyes took in the scene before him. He seemed surprised but not irritated that Rylan didn’t immediately jump up. “Right. I’ll give you two a minute. Just meet me in my study.” He gave me one last long look before leaving.

  I turned my gaze back to Rylan. He bit his lip as if he contemplated saying something more. The gesture reminded me of myself. Resigned and seemingly disappointed, he stood. He pulled my chair out and led me from the table with his hand in the small of my back. I wondered what could be so important to interrupt our dinner but not important enough to demand immediate attention.

  The rest of the manor was strangely quiet and empty. We passed the first door that always stayed closed and Rylan stopped outside of my own door. Unlike dinner he seemed preoccupied and lost in his own thoughts.

  “Thank you for dinner, Rylan.”

  This brought him back to the present and he lifted his hand to the side of my face delicately. “Thank you for accompanying me. I will see you in the morning.”

  “Maybe we can go for another walk,” I offered hopefully.

  “I’d like that.” He smiled shyly and leaned in to kiss my cheek.

  The absence of his hand left my face feeling cool and I ducked into my room before he could see my own confliction tear me down.

  I stared absently through the leaves of the vine covering my small window. I could just make out the blue of the ocean. All I’d ever wanted from Rylan was to know why he’d chosen to break our bond. The answer wasn’t what I’d wanted to hear but what exactly was it that I did want to hear? The separation of our souls had clearly affected him as well.

  I guess I had hoped I’d hear how much he regretted the decision. That losing me was devastating. That he’d take it all back if he could. That no power in the world could replace what separating our link cost him. Sadly, that wasn’t what I got. Though, he was truthful and did his best to explain his side even though I didn’t necessarily agree. Even though I wouldn’t have traded the bond I would’ve shared with him. That even knowing I could survive something like that I would’ve never risked losing him. I would’ve never traded it no matter the promise.