Read Online Merlin's Children (The Children and the Blood) by Skye Malone, Megan Joel Peterson - Free Book Online
Authors: Skye Malone, Megan Joel Peterson
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up his hands at the look she gave him.
“Hear me out,” he said. “I’m just trying to think this through. He had your sister with him for over five months, and he never delivered her to his father in that time. He showed up like a bat out of hell, according to you, on the night your father died, and the Blood nearly killed him for it. He was running away from Chaunessy Tower when you met up with him and now…” Elias’ brow furrowed at his own thoughts. “What if Lily’s not wrong?”
Ashe stared at him.
“We can’t take that chance,” Cornelius countered.
Elias drew a breath, his expression clearing. “No, you’re right.” He glanced to Ashe. “What do you want to do?”
“Besides get the hell out of here?” Ashe replied. Exhaling, she paced a few steps away, trying to focus.
“I have numerous connections throughout the Carolinas,” Cornelius offered. “It would provide the chance to keep moving for a while.”
From the corner of her eye, she could see Elias nod. “Most of the others have headed west and, I hate to say it, but that might lead the Blood to believe we’ve gone that way as well.”
Ashe ignored them as they continued talking. Between the two of them, they could figure out where to go better than she could. And, for the moment, she didn’t care anyway.
Cole helping them. A few minutes ago, she’d have readily considered the idea. He’d risked his life to save them at the farmhouse, after all, and he’d obviously taken care of Lily to the point where she wouldn’t believe a word against him no matter what his dad had done.
Of course, that was then. There was no telling when he’d found out about his father and things had changed. The look on his face at the factory as much as said he’d wanted to stay to see the man. For that matter, he’d been at Chaunessy just when his dad came to take over. He could have been trying to meet Jamison. He could have been trying to deliver Lily into his hands. He’d left her here for now, sure, but maybe he just hadn’t known how to bring the kid along.
And maybe he’d be coming back for her, a dozen Blood wizards in tow.
“Your highness?”
She blinked at the realization Elias had called her several times. “Sorry,” she said, struggling to push away the spiraling thoughts. “What?”
“You ready to go?”
She tried not to scoff as she made a beeline toward the other room.
Chapter Four
After a half dozen blocks, he crested a hill and finally caught sight of the smoke on the horizon. Slowing his steps, he stared at the black clouds and tried not to curse the fact the wizards had chosen hot, hilly, and all together huge Atlanta of all places to hide.
Swiping the sweat from his eyes, Cole looked around, but other than a couple wary pedestrians, no one was paying attention to the young man running madly down the street. Trying to look casual, though he knew he was probably failing, he forced himself to slow to a walk.
Feeling every hour of his lack of sleep from the night before, he scanned the street, evaluating his options. He could keep walking, and probably reach the fires by the time the apartments had been rebuilt. Busses weren’t much of a choice either, though he saw more than a few speeding past on their way to who-knew-where. Without knowing their schedules or routes, he could as easily end up on the opposite side of town as anywhere near where he wanted to be, and take three hours to get there as well.
Buildings grew in height and age as he walked, and every window felt like it held someone watching. Each glance from passersby put him on edge and he found his gaze darting to the fences and parking meters along the street, hoping to catch sight of an unlocked bike, though the impulse made him feel like a jerk.
He rounded a street corner and paused. A chuckle escaped him.
Before the opulent awning and circle drive of a twenty-story hotel, a trio of taxis waited. Swiftly, he checked the door of the hotel,
“Hear me out,” he said. “I’m just trying to think this through. He had your sister with him for over five months, and he never delivered her to his father in that time. He showed up like a bat out of hell, according to you, on the night your father died, and the Blood nearly killed him for it. He was running away from Chaunessy Tower when you met up with him and now…” Elias’ brow furrowed at his own thoughts. “What if Lily’s not wrong?”
Ashe stared at him.
“We can’t take that chance,” Cornelius countered.
Elias drew a breath, his expression clearing. “No, you’re right.” He glanced to Ashe. “What do you want to do?”
“Besides get the hell out of here?” Ashe replied. Exhaling, she paced a few steps away, trying to focus.
“I have numerous connections throughout the Carolinas,” Cornelius offered. “It would provide the chance to keep moving for a while.”
From the corner of her eye, she could see Elias nod. “Most of the others have headed west and, I hate to say it, but that might lead the Blood to believe we’ve gone that way as well.”
Ashe ignored them as they continued talking. Between the two of them, they could figure out where to go better than she could. And, for the moment, she didn’t care anyway.
Cole helping them. A few minutes ago, she’d have readily considered the idea. He’d risked his life to save them at the farmhouse, after all, and he’d obviously taken care of Lily to the point where she wouldn’t believe a word against him no matter what his dad had done.
Of course, that was then. There was no telling when he’d found out about his father and things had changed. The look on his face at the factory as much as said he’d wanted to stay to see the man. For that matter, he’d been at Chaunessy just when his dad came to take over. He could have been trying to meet Jamison. He could have been trying to deliver Lily into his hands. He’d left her here for now, sure, but maybe he just hadn’t known how to bring the kid along.
And maybe he’d be coming back for her, a dozen Blood wizards in tow.
“Your highness?”
She blinked at the realization Elias had called her several times. “Sorry,” she said, struggling to push away the spiraling thoughts. “What?”
“You ready to go?”
She tried not to scoff as she made a beeline toward the other room.
Chapter Four
After a half dozen blocks, he crested a hill and finally caught sight of the smoke on the horizon. Slowing his steps, he stared at the black clouds and tried not to curse the fact the wizards had chosen hot, hilly, and all together huge Atlanta of all places to hide.
Swiping the sweat from his eyes, Cole looked around, but other than a couple wary pedestrians, no one was paying attention to the young man running madly down the street. Trying to look casual, though he knew he was probably failing, he forced himself to slow to a walk.
Feeling every hour of his lack of sleep from the night before, he scanned the street, evaluating his options. He could keep walking, and probably reach the fires by the time the apartments had been rebuilt. Busses weren’t much of a choice either, though he saw more than a few speeding past on their way to who-knew-where. Without knowing their schedules or routes, he could as easily end up on the opposite side of town as anywhere near where he wanted to be, and take three hours to get there as well.
Buildings grew in height and age as he walked, and every window felt like it held someone watching. Each glance from passersby put him on edge and he found his gaze darting to the fences and parking meters along the street, hoping to catch sight of an unlocked bike, though the impulse made him feel like a jerk.
He rounded a street corner and paused. A chuckle escaped him.
Before the opulent awning and circle drive of a twenty-story hotel, a trio of taxis waited. Swiftly, he checked the door of the hotel,
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