Page 38 of The Tribes of Magic (Paragons #3)

RETURN

C onner and I felt so drained from the big teleportation spell, there was no way we’d be able to pull that off again so soon, not even if we combined magic. That left only one option.

“I guess we’ll just have to walk back,” I said.

I was not looking forward to that. It was hot today. And it was raining. I couldn’t have asked for a better weather combination for our eight-hour trek back home. We made it as far as the main road when a big, black SUV screeched past us, turning to block the whole road.

“Get ready, Seven.”

“Get ready? Ready for what?”

“Get ready to fight.”

The air crackled with magic. Conner drew his bow and aimed an arrow at the vehicle. Ice coated the whole arrow. The ice spread across the road, bathing it in twinkling white light. It looked like a sea of diamonds.

I didn’t have a bow. Or arrows. Or any weapons at all.

All I had was my backpack. I swung it off my shoulders, placing it in front of me.

Loaded with the Paragons’ spellbook, my bag was heavy.

Probably not heavy enough to do damage to an armored soldier, but I was still hoping it didn’t come to a fight.

If I picked a fight with a bunch of Watchers, the General would kick me out of the Program for sure. Actually, just being caught here, out of bounds and in the company of the Rebel leader, was already more than enough to get me thrown out.

The driver-side door opened, and someone jumped out. But it wasn’t a Watcher. It was Kato. I lowered my backpack. This had to be my lucky day.

Or maybe not. Kato was staring at me, and he did not look happy.

“What are you doing here?” I asked quietly.

“I went looking for you when Altair called to say you’d disappeared from training.” Fully armored, Kato strode toward me. The ice hissed and melted beneath his feet. “I tracked you here.”

“Using the necklace?” I clasped the necklace he’d given me, an intricate rose pendant made of metal.

“I don’t need the necklace to track you anymore, Seven.”

Kato’s words were heavy. And the look in his eyes was something I couldn’t interpret.

“Get in the car.” He waved his hand, and the other doors opened.

The SUV was so high, there was a step platform beneath the doors. I used it to climb up into the back seat.

“I’m so exhausted,” I yawned. “I could use a nap.”

“Me too.” Conner yawned.

Kato moved into his path before he could follow me into the back. “No, you’re sitting up front with me. We need to have a little chat.”

“As you wish.”

Conner walked around to the other side of the car and took his designated seat with a smile.

He hardly looked tired at all. Except his eyes.

His eyes looked very tired. And so did the part of his magic that was still connected to mine.

The lingering strand of our connection tingled my fingers.

Kato looked at Conner. At me. At Conner again. He frowned.

But he didn’t say anything. He started the SUV’s engine. After a quick turning maneuver, we were off and away, racing down the road.

“If you hold that frown too long, your face will freeze like that,” Conner teased him.

Kato remained silent.

“Then again, maybe it already has.”

“How can you be so glib, Conner? Savannah had an important task to do today, and you dragged her away from it.”

I didn’t catch Conner’s response. I’d already dozed off to the soothing rumble of the engine.