Page 30 of Veiled By Smoke (The Nature Hunters Academy #5)

Penny offered him a small, sad smile. “Because you have a pure heart, Ra. Even when I met you the first time, with your black eyes and weird runes, I knew you were one of the good guys. I can sense it. You know what it’s like to be lost, to have everyone looking at you like you’re a problem to be solved.

Aurora doesn’t need a rescue party storming in.

She needs someone who’ll listen to whatever it is that is going on inside of her, and not freak her the hell out.

Rory, blessed be, she’s a force to be reckoned with, and while, yes, she is Aurora’s sister, she’s like putting a grenade in the middle of a fire and then adding fireworks to the mix. She likes to go ‘boom.’”

He let out a slow breath, tension easing just a little. “So, we go quietly. Feel things out. See what’s really going on.”

“Exactly,” Penny said. “Cordelia said the girl is gentle, selfless, and nothing like her sister. But she’s coming to a fork in the road, and the energy around her is .

. . odd. We need to understand what’s happening before we act.

I wanted to wait for the right moment to share this, but with Viscious looking, we don’t have the luxury of time.

It actually works in our favor that he’s asked you to do it because we won’t be dealing with acolytes getting in the way.

But he’s not going to wait forever, and we need to have her hidden away before he’s demanding you produce her. ”

Ra nodded, the oath demanding he take action, but he forced himself to focus on Penny’s trust, on the hope that maybe, just maybe, he could find a way through this without damning them all. “So, how do we get to Blackhorn without raising suspicions?”

Penny’s lips pressed in thought, then curved in a wry, familiar grin.

“We play to our strengths. You’re an elemental, that’s worked with witches.

I’m a good witch and a member of Cordelia’s coven.

It would make sense for us to talk to Cordelia about Aurora, especially if we explain, in a nonjudgmental way, that having strong personalities like Gabby, Rory, and no offense, but even Shelly, in the mix could be a little off-putting.

And, finding out you have a sister, though good news, could also freak Aurora out.

That could send her running in the opposite direction.

Her world is about to be turned upside down.

I think we can get the others to agree, and hopefully keep Rory in check. ”

Ra’s mind raced, latching onto the plan. “It all makes sense, but emotions do cloud judgment. We will need Kimba to be in agreement with us if we want Rory’s cooperation.”

Penny nodded, approval in her eyes. “Agreed. We’re going in as diplomats, so to speak.

And since she’s already been to my coven, inviting her back would also make it feel less invasive than if we just knock on her door or show up at her school like some creepers.

We’re checking in, making sure a vulnerable soul doesn’t get lost in the shuffle.

It’ll get us in the door and keep the rest of the team calm, too. ”

He offered her a half-smile, the first genuine one he’d managed since before the mountain. “You’re good at this.”

She touched his arm, her strength quiet but fierce. “So are you, Ra. You may be stoic and quiet, but you genuinely care about people. Whatever’s weighing on you, I know you’ll do what’s right, even if it’s hard.”

He swallowed, words sticking in his throat, the oath burning like a brand. “I hope so.”

They walked back toward the group, the sounds of laughter and planning rising as they approached. Ra felt the heaviness pressing at his chest, but for the first time since El Tor, it was tempered by something else, a sliver of hope, fragile but real.

By the time they rejoined the others, they had their story ready: Penny had received word from her contacts in Salem about a child who might be Aurora.

They’d fibbed a little on that part, considering that they were pretty much positive it was the Aurora they were looking for, but they were hoping that would keep Rory under control.

Penny and Ra would go, quietly, to check on the girl and report back before the team made any big moves.

“I don’t like it,” Rory huffed as she paced back and forth.

Kimba stood at the head of the table and watched her bonded rider. “You don’t have to like it, but I’m in agreement. If you go in there all hyped up, you’ll terrify her. She’s young, she’s no doubt dealing with the trauma of losing her parents.”

“That was nearly twelve years ago,” Rory jumped in.

“But she wouldn’t be able to process it until now,” Kimba argued.

“Finding out she has a sister is a lot. Finding out her sister is a supernatural being, with her own bag of trauma and a side of crazy, is more than a lot. It’s a damn monumental revelation.

You’ve got to think about her and not just what you want.

Be the adult in this situation, Rory.” The soul-bonded queen was firm, but her eyes held kindness and care as she met Rory’s gaze.

“Fine,” she growled as she plopped down on Aston’s lap causing him to make an “umph” sound.

He wrapped his arms around her and whispered something in her ear.

She simply shrugged, but looked a little more mollified.

Knowing Aston, he probably promised to hack into all the street cameras, or house cameras to watch their every move. Ra wouldn’t put it past him to do it.

Ra felt his soul bonded’s stare and turned to look at her. The guilt twisted, but he held fast to the new plan. Maybe, with enough care, he could protect them all–Aurora, his family, even his own soul–just a little longer.

But as the oath pulsed in his blood, he knew nothing in this world came without a price.

That night, as the others slept, Ra stood alone at the mouth of the cave, staring into the darkness.

The mountain air clung to him still, his place of peace now torn away by Viscious’s horrific request. He let the fire burn in his palm, just enough to light the shadows, and wondered how much longer he could pretend to be the hero.

The flames flickered, casting shifting gold and crimson light across the snow. He pressed his free hand to his chest, feeling the truth burn there, deep and unforgiving.

Tomorrow, he would lie to his family again.

And the day after that.

And every day until the world burned at the will of the dark fire king, or until he did.