Read Online Astral Tide (The Otherborn Series) by Anna Silver - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Anna Silver
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was a face London knew all too well. A face that caused her weary heart to skip, then shatter.
London blinked at Tora and stammered. “It was…it was Rye.”
Chapter 7
----
The Lesson
ZEN TOOK ONE look at London and the smile vanished from his face. The angles of his jaw and cheekbones seemed to harden. He knew something was wrong.
What could possibly have given it away? Maybe it was the swollen red rings around her bleary eyes. Or the constant sniffling. Or the way she avoided eye contact with everyone. Maybe it was the way Tora sat her container down gingerly then hovered about London like a worried mother hen. Maybe it was the look of absolute pity on Tora’s face.
London dropped her carboy at Zen’s feet, careful not to spill any. Probably it was the fact that she now wore the same pale, haunted expression he had only days ago.
Kim emerged from around the truck. “Sweet. What took you guys so long?”
Tora shot him a warning look.
“What’d I say?” He grabbed a carboy of water.
“Just don’t ask,” Tora told him.
“Don’t ask what?” Kim was a slow learner.
“Anything. Not yet,” Tora said.
Kim stared past Tora to London. He took in her huddled posture and tear-stained face. London could practically see the dots connecting in his mind. “London? What’s going on?”
Tora grabbed the carboy from him. “I told you not to ask.”
Zen grabbed both of London’s wrists in his large, warm hands. His eyes were full of concern. “Did someone hurt you?”
London snatched her arms away. “No,” she said, when what she wanted to say was,
yes, in the worst way possible.
Zen’s gray eyes probed softly, searching for some answer. It was visible that something had gone horribly wrong, but London wasn’t ready to say it. She wasn’t sure she could. She felt like telling them would somehow make it more real than it already was.
Tora was pouring fresh water hastily into the truck’s tank. “Come on. We have to get out of here. They’ve got regiments staying at every house in the district. We have to move on without stopping until Ag is well behind us.”
Zen and Kim both turned from studying London to eyeing Tora. London was relieved to have a break from their scrutiny.
“What do you mean? Why would they have regiments here?” Zen asked.
“For us. Duh.” Tora threw the empty container in back of the truck and motioned for one of the boys to load the second one, still half full.
Zen looked back at London. “How would they know?”
London squirmed under his gaze. “How do you think?” she said at last.
“Aghhh, that bitch!” Kim shouted. “How the hell is she doing it?”
Tora ripped the keys out of his pocket and handed them to him. “Drop it, Kim. You have to drive. London isn’t in the mood.”
Kim hopped in front and Zen held open the back door while London climbed inside. She really didn’t want to be stuck back there with him, but she also didn’t want to be alone. When he started to follow her, she wasn’t going to say anything, but Tora appeared in the open doorway and stopped him.
“Nice try. You’re up front with Kim. London and I need to work on some things.”
Zen gave her a puzzled look but complied.
London breathed a sigh of relief. She knew it wasn’t over. She would have to face him eventually. Tell them both what she’d seen: Rye, betraying them. Maybe then Zen would finally open up and let his own secrets about Rye out. How could she have been so wrong? Rye had been her best friend for years. He’d given his own life to save her from the dogs outside New Eden. London just couldn’t reconcile the boy she knew and loved with the one she’d seen on that screen.
Tora closed and latched the doors behind them. She gave London an assessing look and tucked her sharp bob behind both ears. “I know the timing sucks, but you and I have some things to work on.”
“You said that already,” London pointed out. It’s what she’d just told Zen to get
London blinked at Tora and stammered. “It was…it was Rye.”
Chapter 7
----
The Lesson
ZEN TOOK ONE look at London and the smile vanished from his face. The angles of his jaw and cheekbones seemed to harden. He knew something was wrong.
What could possibly have given it away? Maybe it was the swollen red rings around her bleary eyes. Or the constant sniffling. Or the way she avoided eye contact with everyone. Maybe it was the way Tora sat her container down gingerly then hovered about London like a worried mother hen. Maybe it was the look of absolute pity on Tora’s face.
London dropped her carboy at Zen’s feet, careful not to spill any. Probably it was the fact that she now wore the same pale, haunted expression he had only days ago.
Kim emerged from around the truck. “Sweet. What took you guys so long?”
Tora shot him a warning look.
“What’d I say?” He grabbed a carboy of water.
“Just don’t ask,” Tora told him.
“Don’t ask what?” Kim was a slow learner.
“Anything. Not yet,” Tora said.
Kim stared past Tora to London. He took in her huddled posture and tear-stained face. London could practically see the dots connecting in his mind. “London? What’s going on?”
Tora grabbed the carboy from him. “I told you not to ask.”
Zen grabbed both of London’s wrists in his large, warm hands. His eyes were full of concern. “Did someone hurt you?”
London snatched her arms away. “No,” she said, when what she wanted to say was,
yes, in the worst way possible.
Zen’s gray eyes probed softly, searching for some answer. It was visible that something had gone horribly wrong, but London wasn’t ready to say it. She wasn’t sure she could. She felt like telling them would somehow make it more real than it already was.
Tora was pouring fresh water hastily into the truck’s tank. “Come on. We have to get out of here. They’ve got regiments staying at every house in the district. We have to move on without stopping until Ag is well behind us.”
Zen and Kim both turned from studying London to eyeing Tora. London was relieved to have a break from their scrutiny.
“What do you mean? Why would they have regiments here?” Zen asked.
“For us. Duh.” Tora threw the empty container in back of the truck and motioned for one of the boys to load the second one, still half full.
Zen looked back at London. “How would they know?”
London squirmed under his gaze. “How do you think?” she said at last.
“Aghhh, that bitch!” Kim shouted. “How the hell is she doing it?”
Tora ripped the keys out of his pocket and handed them to him. “Drop it, Kim. You have to drive. London isn’t in the mood.”
Kim hopped in front and Zen held open the back door while London climbed inside. She really didn’t want to be stuck back there with him, but she also didn’t want to be alone. When he started to follow her, she wasn’t going to say anything, but Tora appeared in the open doorway and stopped him.
“Nice try. You’re up front with Kim. London and I need to work on some things.”
Zen gave her a puzzled look but complied.
London breathed a sigh of relief. She knew it wasn’t over. She would have to face him eventually. Tell them both what she’d seen: Rye, betraying them. Maybe then Zen would finally open up and let his own secrets about Rye out. How could she have been so wrong? Rye had been her best friend for years. He’d given his own life to save her from the dogs outside New Eden. London just couldn’t reconcile the boy she knew and loved with the one she’d seen on that screen.
Tora closed and latched the doors behind them. She gave London an assessing look and tucked her sharp bob behind both ears. “I know the timing sucks, but you and I have some things to work on.”
“You said that already,” London pointed out. It’s what she’d just told Zen to get
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