Shadow of the Coalition

by Jamie A. Waters

  Kayla didn’t understand or see how she’d influenced all of them. Her actions and reactions were trickling down and affecting everyone. She challenged each of them to question their beliefs and even their way of life. Alec shook his head in exasperation. She’d end up either destroying all of them or making them greater than they’d ever been.

  He swallowed back the rush of emotions and lifted his head to look at the trader. “Help me convince Kayla to stay. Give her projects and help her build that damned tower for the surface dwellers. Keep her busy and show her the prototypes in the Research and Development Lab. Do whatever you need to do to keep her here as long as possible. I don’t care what it costs. It won’t last, but every day she remains is one more day we have to hunt down Lars and the Coalition.”

  Carl was quiet for a long moment. Then, he chuckled and shook his head. “You understand her far better than I gave you credit for. You only suspended my contract so I can go after her in case she takes off again.”

  “Yes,” Alec agreed, although it pained him to do so. “She trusts you. If she decides to leave again…” His voice trailed off, and he shook his head. “She agreed to return to your camp because she loves you. You were the only one able to get through to her. Brant told me what happened.”

  Carl sat back down and rested his elbows on his knees. “You really love her, don’t you?”

  Alec glanced down at the dark-haired woman who had stolen his heart. “From the time she was born, it was expected we would end up together. I resented having my future planned out, but I couldn’t resist her even then. I loved her in the way only a child can love another child. When the ruin collapsed and we thought she’d died, I grew up loving her memory and the possibility of what could have been. But now, all those feelings pale in comparison to the reality of her. I love her as the woman she’s become.”

  Alec reached out to touch her cheek and sent another light wave of energy over her. “I’ll always love her, which is why I’m entrusting her to you for safe keeping. No one else can protect her as well as the person who loves her as much as I do.” He turned to meet Carl’s gaze. “You have my word that I’ll no longer attempt to interfere in your relationship. There’s too much at stake. I need an ally, not more enemies. Help me protect her. Please.”

  Carl studied him for a long time. When he didn’t respond, Alec felt a moment of panic at the thought the trader would reject his offer. By capturing Kayla’s heart, the dark-haired man in front of him held more power than the highest Inner Circle member. From the look on Carl’s face, he knew it. The role reversal humbled and unnerved Alec.

  Carl gave him a curt nod, acknowledging the unspoken words between them. He extended his hand. “For Kayla’s sake, I’ll agree to be your ally.”

  Alec accepted his hand and felt the balance of power shift even more. It was a hold he’d gladly relinquish as long as Kayla remained safe. “Just don’t let anything happen to her. She’s my heart.”

  “I won’t,” Carl agreed and glanced down at Kayla again. He reached over to tuck her hair behind her ear. In a softer voice Alec barely heard, he added, “She’s my hope and my home.”

  Alec squeezed his eyes shut as the memory of Kayla’s emotions and her love for both of them flooded through him. Her capacity for love was staggering and made him determined to be worthy of it and of her. Unable to wait a moment longer, he went to find a doctor to awaken her, confident that Carl would keep her safe in his absence.

  Kayla Rath’Varein’s story continues in Tremors of the Past, #3 The Omni Towers Series. Turn the page for a sneak peek or click here to read it now!

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  Sneak Peek

  Searching within yourself can reveal a dangerous truth…

  Someone is trying to kill Kayla Rath’Varein—again.

  The Omni Towers are more dangerous than ever to the self-proclaimed ruin rat. With the instability in the towers reaching a crescendo and perils lurking in every corridor, Kayla needs to find out who is responsible and stop them before they succeed in ending her life.

  But when the man she loves is abducted and the lives of her former campmates are threatened, Kayla is forced to decide between launching a daring rescue attempt or protecting the lives of everyone within the towers. As her past and present collide, Kayla quickly learns that whatever path she chooses will forever change the course of her future and the fate of the Omni Towers.

  Tremors of the Past

  Kayla shimmied across a beam spanning the length of the storage room ceiling, pausing about halfway to peer over the side. Three OmniLab security officers searched behind a wide assortment of crates and equipment, and she raised an eyebrow. Did they really think she was a beginner when it came to evading authority figures?

  “I know you’re in here,” a voice called out.

  Kayla narrowed her eyes as Brant Mason, the dark-haired security officer from the special sect known as the Inner Circle Shadows, scanned the room below her. He’d been hounding her ever since Alec assigned him to watch over her. He was taking these babysitting duties a little too seriously for her taste. Sure, someone might try to hurt her again, but Lars and the Coalition were on the surface and not in the towers. It was far more likely she’d accidentally cause another earthquake. As long as she didn’t actively use her energy abilities, and no one pissed her off, they’d all be just fine. She hoped.

  Kayla rested her head against the tie beam for a moment. Okay, so maybe it was a good idea to stick close to the man in case the ground started shaking, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. The nonstop scrutiny was grating on her nerves, and she needed a break. Every instinct screamed out for her to flee. When they’d followed her to the bathroom again just a few minutes ago, she’d thought she might lose her mind.

  Hence her decision to climb into the rafters of one of OmniLab’s basement storerooms to escape from security’s watchful eyes. It might not have been the smartest decision, but even a short break was a welcome relief.

  One of the officers muttered his frustration and made a disparaging remark about Inner Circle members, but Brant silenced him with a sharp look. “Watch your mouth. And no, I can sense her. Keep looking.”

  Kayla wrinkled her nose. How does he do that? She didn’t even realize she was using her energy most of the time and tried to concentrate, clamping down on her energy usage. Brant had explained she had a tendency to leak energy when she wasn’t concentrating on it. It was an exercise in constant frustration to keep it suppressed.

  Brant’s gaze darted around the room as though he sensed her trying to control the energy. He snapped his fingers at the guards, ordering them to look faster. Kayla draped herself over the beam to get into a more comfortable position, prepared to wait them out. The minute they moved on in their search, she’d backtrack and hide out in the Research and Development Lab, where an irate scientist had chased her out of earlier. Apparently, he didn’t appreciate her taking one of their latest prototypes apart, which was a shame because she would have drastically improved his design after a few tweaks.

  Her commlink vibrated in her pocket. Shifting her body enough to pull it out, she disabled video and audio. No need to advertise her whereabouts to either the caller or searchers. A message from Carl displayed on the screen when she pressed a button.

  Where are you?

  She hesitated before answering. Carl would curse up a storm when he found out what she was doing. They’d only released her from the medical ward yesterday, and her injuries hadn’t fully healed. Apparently, crashing a speeder, dislocating her shoulder, being shot with a stun gun and then stabbed wasn’t the healthiest of lifestyle choices. Go figure. She considered her options in replying and then tapped out a brief response.

  Playing hide-and
-seek with Brant in the basement. I can meet you back in Seara’s quarters in an hour.

  When he didn’t respond, Kayla slid her commlink back into her pocket. Brant and his team had finally given up on their current location and were moving toward the next room. Kayla waited, poised to make her escape once they crossed the threshold. If she hopped on the next beam, she could then slide down to reach the other side of the room. They’d never have a clue.

  A tingling in the air was the first sign something wasn’t right. She reached out with her energy senses, trying to decide what was different. Before she could figure it out, a sharp wind kicked up, upsetting her balance and causing her foot to slip. Her instincts took hold, and she hooked an arm over the beam to prevent falling. She gasped in pain as the sharp movement pulled at the injury in her side. She couldn’t do anything except hang on.

  Shouts echoed from below, followed by the pounding of approaching footsteps. There was a loud, metal clang and then more footsteps running in the opposite direction.

  “Don’t move!” Brant shouted below her.

  Seriously, that’s all the advice he has?

  She blew her dark hair out of her face and tried to figure out how to get out of this predicament. In her current position, she couldn’t tell if there was a nearby ledge or crate to use as a springboard. The pain in her side was excruciating, and she was almost positive she’d torn open her injury again.

  Forcing herself to focus beyond the pain, Kayla tried to maneuver one of her legs back over the side of the beam. Suddenly, a powerful wind gave her a small boost and lifted her enough to secure herself. The warm embrace of Alec’s energy surrounded her, and she glanced down to find Alec and Carl standing below.

  Kayla grimaced, squeezed her eyes shut, and thumped her head against the beam. Great. She was in for it now. She opened her eyes again to take another peek, hoping she’d been wrong, but no such luck. They were still there, and neither one looked happy. Both men were standing side by side with mirrored expressions of disapproval on their faces, but that’s where the similarities ended. Carl and Alec were as different as night and day.

  Carl’s dark hair was tied at the nape of his neck, exposing his powerful jawline. He had a more athletic build, with broader shoulders and a chiseled physique. The man’s body was mouth-watering, and she still got butterflies in her stomach whenever she looked at him. He was devious, resourceful, and more than a little cocky and self-assured—all traits she deeply admired. It was his understanding and compassionate nature, though, that had overcome all her resistances and made her fall in love with him. Although, right now, it was clear his thoughts weren’t warm and fuzzy. He crossed his arms over his chest as he gazed up at her with his penetrating brown eyes. Yep. She was definitely screwed.

  Kayla glanced over at Alec and blew out a breath when she realized he was equally perturbed. Where Carl was more rugged and could pass for a ruin rat, there was no mistaking Alec’s position within the towers. There was something almost regal in his bearing. He wore the mantle of High Council leader as though born to it, which wasn’t far from the truth. From the elaborate clothing to the expensive jewelry he wore, Alec carried an air of unmistakable privilege. With his piercing blue eyes and blond hair falling neatly to his shoulders, he was every bit the golden boy of the towers. Kayla couldn’t deny he was attractive, but there was more to it. He was unlike anyone she’d ever known, and it was those differences that made him intriguing. Like a moth to a flame, he captivated her. And like the proverbial moth, Kayla suspected she was about to find herself in a very uncomfortable situation.

  At her scrutiny, Alec arched one of his eyebrows, and she blew out a breath. Oh well. She’d had a good run. Time to face the music.

  “Brant tattled on me, didn’t he?” she accused from her perch.

  Alec clasped his hands behind his back. He didn’t answer her. Instead, he turned to Carl. “I don’t know how you managed to catch her on the surface. She’s been out of the medical ward for less than a day and my security team has already lost her twice.”

  Kayla lifted her shoulder in a half-shrug and then shimmied back across the beam. Carl was pretty good at staying one step ahead of her. Apparently, Alec was taking notes. That didn’t bode well for her.

  As she reached the end of the beam, she hooked her abdomen over the bar and swung her lower body upward to dismount in an underswing that would make any gymnast proud. The landing jarred her, and she winced as the movement pulled at the injury even more.

  Cursing under her breath, she gingerly touched her side. When she removed her hand, it came away wet with blood. Crap. She glanced up to see if they’d noticed.

  They had. She groaned as Carl crossed the room in a handful of steps.

  “Dammit, Kayla. You just got released from medical.” He yanked up the bottom of her shirt to inspect the injury and let out a low hiss at the sight. “Shit. You pulled it open again.”

  “Hey!” she protested at his abrupt handling but glanced down to see the damage. Ouch. He was right. Her careless acrobatics had reopened the wound. She wrinkled her nose as she examined her side. It wasn’t any prettier the second time around either.

  Carl lifted his head, and his worried gaze met hers. The depth of love, concern, and raw emotion in his eyes was staggering, and her objections melted away. With a sigh, he trailed his fingers across her cheek and then tucked a loose tendril of hair behind her ear.

  “You’ve got to be more careful, sweetheart. If you had received an injury like that when you were on the surface, it would have laid you up for weeks. You’re lucky to be out of medical so soon. The doctors can only speed up your healing so much. You still need to give your body time to recuperate the rest of the way. I don’t want to lose you,” he said in a low voice.

  Carl cupped her cheek in his hand, and she leaned into him, relishing the contact. It was hard to argue with him when he was right, especially considering she’d almost lost him a short time ago. The thought of losing the man she loved had been more than she’d been able to handle. In her grief, she’d nearly pulled a building down on top of them.

  Fortunately, Carl had only been stunned. The experience, however, had only reinforced what she knew from the past. Each moment they had together needed to be treasured because there was no way to know how long it would last. She’d been in the medical wing for nearly a week recovering from her injuries. The medics had made it clear she might not have survived if Alec hadn’t gotten her back to OmniLab so quickly for treatment. For that, she’d always be grateful to the High Council leader.

  She glanced up at Alec to find several emotions tracing over his features. He’d been keeping a tighter clamp on their energy bond ever since she’d admitted how she felt about him, and it made it more difficult to read his feelings. It was a little easier to relax around Alec without the fear of being inundated with the allure of his energy, but she’d be lying if she said she didn’t miss the closeness of their shared connection.

  Alec took a deep breath and called to Brant over his shoulder. The security officer jogged over, bent down, and assessed Kayla’s injury with a critical eye. He spoke into his wrist unit, ordering a medic to their location.

  Kayla wrinkled her nose at their overprotective hovering. “Come on, guys. It’s not that bad. If we slap a bandage on it, it’ll be fine.”

  Carl frowned and lowered her shirt. His fingers brushed against her skin and, despite her injury, she shivered. She turned into putty every time the man put his hands on her. He pressed a kiss against her forehead and shook his head in exasperation.

  “Do you want to explain why you were hanging from the ceiling?”

  Not really. She shifted her weight and tried to decide on a plausible explanation. Since she still planned to escape the guards at the earliest opportunity, she didn’t want to volunteer her future plans. Luckily, she didn’t have to get inventive because one of the security officers came rushing over. After expressing an out-of-breath apology, the officer announced,
“I couldn’t catch them. They had too much of a head start. I think they slipped down one of the side halls.”

  Alec’s eyes narrowed on Brant. “What happened?”

  “We were attempting to locate Kayla when I sensed someone channeling energy. Next thing I knew, she was about to fall. One of my men attempted to track down the suspect when they fled. We’ve sealed the floor and are bringing in another team to search. If they backtracked to the service side of the floor, they may have already escaped. This area isn’t secure.”

  Kayla bunched up her shirt, pushing it against the wound to wipe up the blood. Damn. Maybe she did need more than just a bandage. Her side was throbbing.

  “I didn’t fall. I felt a tingle and then a gust of wind tried to knock me off the beam.”

  Carl and Alec exchanged a look but didn’t reply. They’d been doing that a lot over the past two days, and it was getting annoying.

  Brant frowned. “I’ll have someone review the surveillance system footage right away.”

  Kayla shifted from foot to foot and bit her lip. “Um, about that…”

  Carl groaned. “Please tell me you didn’t disable the surveillance.”

  She released her shirt and threw up her hands. “I didn’t know someone planned to tornado me off the ceiling. You guys have people watching me every second. Between Brant and his band of merry men following me and the cameras tracking my every move, I don’t get a break.” She slapped her hands on Carl’s chest, grabbed his shirt, and stared him down. “It’s making me crazy. I can’t handle it.”