Read Online Foretold (Daughters of Saraqael Book Three) by Raine Thomas - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Raine Thomas
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only stare at his leader in response.
Sighing, Gabriel nodded. “Never mind then. We’ll wait here.”
There was another long silence filled with sobbing and the ebb and swell of indistinct voices from behind the bathroom door. Caleb crossed his arms over his chest to try and keep himself from pushing past everyone and charging into the bathroom.
“I simply do not know how this could have happened,” Malukali said tensely as she began to pace a few feet in front of the closed bedroom door. Her hands waved animatedly as she spoke. “We have put so many protections in place.”
“Are those protections weakened if you’re sleeping?” James asked.
“No,” she responded. “And even if they were, I was not—”
When she cut herself off and abruptly stopped her pacing to stare helplessly at Knorbis, Gabriel narrowed his eyes in realization. Caleb watched as the three elders looked from one to another. They all appeared to be exchanging rapid thoughts, though what about he couldn’t even guess. Gabriel clenched his jaw and gave both Malukali and Knorbis looks filled with such a range of emotion that Caleb couldn’t take it all in. He did recognize disbelief, anger, frustration and then, seemingly, acceptance.
“How is it possible her tank top was torn?” James asked. He had been lost in his own thoughts and apparently hadn’t noticed the byplay between the three elders.
Caleb had been so distracted by Skye’s physical and emotional reaction to the attack that he hadn’t even registered the tear in her tank top. Now that he thought about it, however, he realized James was right.
“What do you mean?” Knorbis asked, turning to look at James.
“In her dream, or whatever it was, the left strap of Skye’s tank top was torn by Grolkinei,” James responded. His gaze moved briefly to Caleb. “When we woke up, her tank top was still torn.”
“That is not possible,” the Wymzesti elder replied. He looked at Malukali for confirmation.
“No,” she agreed. “I can think of no dream that would produce that kind of physical reaction in the waking world.”
“But it did,” Caleb ground out, his emotion and temper flaring. He uncrossed his arms and moved slowly and deliberately around the bed, advancing closer to Knorbis and Malukali and looking steadily at each of them. “She was taken from here somehow. He had his hands on her—had her pinned beneath him. He was going to—” His throat constricted painfully and he took a sharp breath, unable to finish.
Reaching out, Gabriel stopped him and stood with his hands on his shoulders. Malukali was now shedding silent tears and Knorbis looked positively horrified. Their reactions were likely heightened because Caleb never spoke to any elder in a tone other than respectful. And just then, he sounded downright accusatory.
“Okay. Let’s hold it together,” Gabriel said quietly. Because he now faced Caleb, he looked right into his eyes to convey understanding and a request for patience. “For Skye. She’ll need our strength now. Tossing blame on anyone but Grolkinei is both unwarranted and a waste of time.”
Caleb knew his leader was right. That didn’t make it any easier. Still, he nodded. When he glanced up, he caught James’ gaze. He realized then that if anyone did understand how he felt right then, it was James. After all, Olivia had been subjected to very similar treatment by Grolkinei several weeks ago, and it hadn’t been in her mind. He would have to have a private conversation with him.
Of course , James thought.
Realizing his thoughts had been heard though he hadn’t intended it, Caleb simply sent a silent thank you to the Gloresti he thought of as his brother.
The sound of the shower shutting off had them all tensing. He moved away from Gabriel, drawing closer to the bathroom door. Malukali and Knorbis, on the other hand, eased back, probably not wanting to overwhelm Skye or her sisters. Gabriel and James stood a foot apart, by all
Sighing, Gabriel nodded. “Never mind then. We’ll wait here.”
There was another long silence filled with sobbing and the ebb and swell of indistinct voices from behind the bathroom door. Caleb crossed his arms over his chest to try and keep himself from pushing past everyone and charging into the bathroom.
“I simply do not know how this could have happened,” Malukali said tensely as she began to pace a few feet in front of the closed bedroom door. Her hands waved animatedly as she spoke. “We have put so many protections in place.”
“Are those protections weakened if you’re sleeping?” James asked.
“No,” she responded. “And even if they were, I was not—”
When she cut herself off and abruptly stopped her pacing to stare helplessly at Knorbis, Gabriel narrowed his eyes in realization. Caleb watched as the three elders looked from one to another. They all appeared to be exchanging rapid thoughts, though what about he couldn’t even guess. Gabriel clenched his jaw and gave both Malukali and Knorbis looks filled with such a range of emotion that Caleb couldn’t take it all in. He did recognize disbelief, anger, frustration and then, seemingly, acceptance.
“How is it possible her tank top was torn?” James asked. He had been lost in his own thoughts and apparently hadn’t noticed the byplay between the three elders.
Caleb had been so distracted by Skye’s physical and emotional reaction to the attack that he hadn’t even registered the tear in her tank top. Now that he thought about it, however, he realized James was right.
“What do you mean?” Knorbis asked, turning to look at James.
“In her dream, or whatever it was, the left strap of Skye’s tank top was torn by Grolkinei,” James responded. His gaze moved briefly to Caleb. “When we woke up, her tank top was still torn.”
“That is not possible,” the Wymzesti elder replied. He looked at Malukali for confirmation.
“No,” she agreed. “I can think of no dream that would produce that kind of physical reaction in the waking world.”
“But it did,” Caleb ground out, his emotion and temper flaring. He uncrossed his arms and moved slowly and deliberately around the bed, advancing closer to Knorbis and Malukali and looking steadily at each of them. “She was taken from here somehow. He had his hands on her—had her pinned beneath him. He was going to—” His throat constricted painfully and he took a sharp breath, unable to finish.
Reaching out, Gabriel stopped him and stood with his hands on his shoulders. Malukali was now shedding silent tears and Knorbis looked positively horrified. Their reactions were likely heightened because Caleb never spoke to any elder in a tone other than respectful. And just then, he sounded downright accusatory.
“Okay. Let’s hold it together,” Gabriel said quietly. Because he now faced Caleb, he looked right into his eyes to convey understanding and a request for patience. “For Skye. She’ll need our strength now. Tossing blame on anyone but Grolkinei is both unwarranted and a waste of time.”
Caleb knew his leader was right. That didn’t make it any easier. Still, he nodded. When he glanced up, he caught James’ gaze. He realized then that if anyone did understand how he felt right then, it was James. After all, Olivia had been subjected to very similar treatment by Grolkinei several weeks ago, and it hadn’t been in her mind. He would have to have a private conversation with him.
Of course , James thought.
Realizing his thoughts had been heard though he hadn’t intended it, Caleb simply sent a silent thank you to the Gloresti he thought of as his brother.
The sound of the shower shutting off had them all tensing. He moved away from Gabriel, drawing closer to the bathroom door. Malukali and Knorbis, on the other hand, eased back, probably not wanting to overwhelm Skye or her sisters. Gabriel and James stood a foot apart, by all
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