Page 60 of Uprooted

Aro

“We finalized evacuation plans. The shuttle will be ready in two days.” Tai’s words feel like a stab in the gut. He waited to drop this news until most of the fight was worked out of me.

“We’re running out of time,” Tai says reluctantly.

We’ve been training for hours. I haven’t been focused, but he has taken it easy on me. He’s stopped himself when he could have taken me down, more than once.

I’m resentful that after everything Elowen and I have been through, she’s being ripped away from me. I still haven’t given up hope that there is some way to keep Elowen here. The thought of being away from her feels like I’ve cut off a part of my own body.

We sit between bouts, both of us dripping in sweat. My yuriOS lights up with a link request. I slide my finger towards my palm and a holographic image of my father appears, hovering over my upturned wrist.

“Is your base prepared for the evacuations?” he asks.

“Yes. Everything is ready.” “Are you ready to—” I stop him from finishing that sentence. I don’t even want to hear the words.

“No. I’m going to ask Elowen to stay. She will be safe here at the base until we have some answers about who is behind this.” I know I sound like a petulant child, but I can't let her go. We belong together .

“Aro, you can’t keep her locked up here. It’s not fair to her,” he says with care.

* * *

I’m tired. Tai and I trained until the early hours of the morning. When I finally climb into bed next to Elowen, I can’t sleep. I lie listening to her soft breathing while my mind continues to race. It feels like I’m getting farther from being able to summon my new ability.