Read Online The Judge by Jonathan Yanez - Free Book Online Page A

the air and over the camp. Wood, roots and dirt flew in every direction. Conner’s arm whipped the attached chain across the camp, sending Zheng, Orion and Caderyn diving for cover.
    Connor saw all of this like he was in a dream. He was aware of what was happening but powerless to do anything about it. That’s when he remembered his father’s words about finding something to ground him, something to hold on to and remind him of who he was and what he was and who he had to be. Fighting to hold onto something, Connor thought about everyone depending on him. Hundreds, thousands of Elites who looked at him to lead them though this dark time in their history. The millions of people who would be affected by Vercin’s reign if he could not be defeated.
    Connor focused on this but it wasn’t enough. He could feel the power lessen, almost bend as he fought to  ground himself with this thought, but it wasn’t strong enough. Then he saw Laren in his mind’s eye. She was smiling, every strand of hair in place, encouraging him to be stronger, to be the man she knew he could be.
    Before Connor could try and use Laren’s image to calm his rage, strong arms grabbed him from all sides. The three men who had taken him to the mountain tapped into their own Elite gene and tried to calm the enraged Judge before he tore free. Connor felt arms around his torso arms and neck.
    This was the exact wrong thing to do as Connor lost all concentration on his image of Laren. The rage focused on one thing and one thing only, freedom.
    Orion was holding the chain that had ripped free from the tree, his one good eye shining a bright red. Zheng was holding the opposite chain that was tied to the pillar as cracks like a spider web formed on the stone’s surface. Caderyn was wrapped over Connor’s back, shouting in his ear, “Enough, rise up and be the man we need you to be. You can do this, Connor, I know you can!”
    Chaos broke in the camp as Connor’s potential was tapped. Throwing his weight behind his right arm and swinging it forward, Orion went flying into the night air like a comet.
    Right arm and the chain still connected to it free, Connor lashed out. The thick steel chain went flying toward Zheng, who barely ducked under the blow. The chain connected with the already weakened stone pillar, breaking it into dozens of pieces that buried Zheng.
    Caderyn had seen where things were headed. He adjusted his grip on Connor’s back into a headlock. Connor felt his windpipe constrict as he struggled to breathe. He reached behind him and got a handful of his father’s hair before everything went black.
     
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 13
     
     
    “Well, at least you weren’t using the temple for anything, right? I mean, it could have been a lot worse if we tried this in the palace courtyard,” Orion said.
    “Yes, Orion, but the way you flew through the air like a baby bird was most definitely the highlight of last night’s events,” Zheng said.
    Connor opened his eyes and stared into the jungle sky. He was on his back lying outside of the temple on a blanket.
    His father’s head appeared over him and looked down. “Well, that was only the first time. It’ll get easier. You did well.”
    Connor sat up and rubbed at his arms where the steel chains had been locked in place. Not so much as a cut or scrape was there.
    “How do you feel?” his father asked.
    “I couldn’t do it. I thought for a second I had it. I was just beginning to see Laren and control the rage but it was gone in a second.” Connor looked at Orion and Zheng, who stood by the side looking on. “I’m so sorry for—”
    Zheng raised both hands with a smile. “Please, Connor. It’s not like it’s the first time you’ve tried to take a swing at me.”
    “And,” Orion said, “If you’re capable of that kind of strength and power, then I think we’re going to be all right when it comes to facing Vercin and the inmates of Karnag.”
    “We still have a