Read Online Invincible (The Aerling Series Book 3) by DelSheree Gladden - Free Book Online Page B

anyone coming
down this way until the next shift.”
    “Good.” Sloane’s whole body tenses up as I
walk over to stand directly in front of the guard, as close as I can manage
without him sensing me immediately. I can tell by Sloane’s stillness that she’s
holding her breath, which seems oddly appropriate given what I’m about to do.
It’s times like these that I’m thankful to have the memory of an Aerling. Aside
from the memories lost from the trauma of seeing my Caretaker family murdered
in front of me, I remember nearly everything. Any memory having to do with
power, it’s like it’s stored inside my mind in full HD.
    I bring back Cedrick’s instructions, the
memory of it filling me to the point that it’s as though I’m there. I remember
his every move, following it as I call up my power and bring the air in the
guard’s body under my full command. I know instinctively how much I need to
take for him to pass out, and with a flick of my power, I suck it right out of
him. His eyes roll up before he can even process a single thought, and a few
seconds later he’s lying on the ground.
    Sloane seems stunned at my display, but I
don’t have time to calm her down. “Stand guard. It may take me a few minutes to
wake Hayden up.”
    Nodding, she takes up position dutifully.
The whole getting inside Olivia’s head thing is still bugging me, but I have no
problem trusting Sloane when it comes to rescuing Hayden. That’s the whole
reason she volunteered for this insane mission in the first place. Putting my
faith in her to do her job well, I make myself visible and approach Hayden’s
unconscious form. He doesn’t react at all when I put my hand on his shoulder.
    “Hayden,” I whisper. You need to wake up.”
He groans when I shake him gently, but still seems determined to avoid the
waking world. “Hayden, please, we need to get you out of here.” He groans again
and pulls away from me. Sighing, I say the one thing I know will work. “Olivia
is waiting for you, but you have to wake up.”
    Immediately, Hayden’ eyes flutter halfway
open. “Olivia?” He looks like he’s either been drugged or simply exhausted, but
he finally begins to struggle up to sitting. He only makes it halfway before I
reach in to help him. He winces when I grab his arm to help keep him steady.
    “Where are you hurt?” I ask.
    “Pretty much everywhere. Don’t worry about
it. Let’s just get the hell outta here.”
    I couldn’t agree more. Hayden leans on me
heavily once I get him up to his feet and my worries about how we’re going to
escape deepen. “Any grand ideas on how to get you out of here without getting
caught by the Sentinels?”
    Hayden laughs, or tries to anyway. It’s
too painful. “Would’ve thought you’d have figured that out before jumping in
here to rescue me.”
    “Yeah, well, you know how our last
brilliant plan worked out. We figured winging it couldn’t possibly go any
worse.”
    A grin spreads across Hayden’s mouth.
“That last plan sucked.”
    “No kidding. Let’s hope this one goes a
little better.”
    Hayden starts to nod, but suddenly he digs
up a bit of strength and grabs my arm, pointing over my shoulder. I whip
around, sure a Sentinel has somehow managed to sneak up on us, but all I see is
Sloane standing guard. “Hayden, what’s…?”
    “Shh!” he whispers. “There’s someone
outside the cell. A woman.”
    I couldn’t have been more stunned than if
someone dropped a bucket of ice water on my head. “You can see her?” I demand.
    “Of course I can! She’s standing right in
front of us!”
    At that, Sloane turns around, looking
equally caught off guard. “You can see me?”
    “Why does everyone keep asking me that?”
Hayden asks. He tries to move away from Sloane, but his legs give out and I
have to catch him. His eyes stay pinned on Sloane the entire time. “Who are
you?”
    Knowing we can’t sit around chatting all night,
I give Hayden the short version. “She’s an