Read Online Time's Divide (The Chronos Files Book 3) by Rysa Walker - Free Book Online
Authors: Rysa Walker
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And a few common goals. But we’re late for tea, so the details will have to wait.” He motions with his head toward the door. “Shall we?”
As much as I’d like to tell him we shall not , at least not until I have more answers, I don’t like leaving Mom alone with Prudence. I still don’t think she’d actually hurt Mom, although I have to admit that Pru’s current level of instability has made me less certain on that point. Either way, she’s clearly on a mission to convince Mom to accept her version of reality. And in a battle for heart and mind, every second I leave them alone is risky.
There are two other passengers in the elevator, so we don’t talk on the ride down. The three of us just stand against the back wall, awkwardly silent, with Trey casting occasional angry glances at Kiernan over the top of my head. I grab Trey’s hand and lace his fingers between mine, hoping to signal that he has no reason to feel threatened.
If I’d had to guess which of the two would be acting jealous and territorial, I’d have picked Kiernan. But the vibe I’m getting from him is very different from when we were in Georgia. The change in his eyes I noticed earlier is one thing—he looks tired. Resigned, maybe. That spark that’s always present when he looks at me is gone. Well, maybe not gone, but definitely muted. Distant.
His transformation is disconcerting. I almost feel like I’m standing next to a stranger. People can change a lot in six years.
Maybe he’s moved on?
Maybe he’s moved on with Prudence?
Ick . I inch closer to Trey because even if it’s not rational, and totally unfair, that idea bothers me on so many different levels.
Trey and I step into the lobby and Kiernan follows, grabbing my arm to hold me back. “Give me your key,” he says, yanking his own from his pocket.
“Why?”
He rolls his eyes and reaches over, pulling at the black cord around my neck that he knows holds my CHRONOS medallion. His fingers brush against my collarbone for only a moment, but it’s still enough to trigger the shiver I feel when he’s too close for comfort. And as awkward as that is at any time, it’s a million times more uncomfortable with Trey watching.
Kiernan activates his key and slides mine out of the leather pouch that shields the light if you come into contact with someone carrying the CHRONOS gene. He holds the two together, transferring a set of personal coordinates from his medallion to mine. Some stable points, apparently the most popular destinations, are standard to all keys. Less frequently used locations are in the Log of Stable Points that Katherine has back home. With a local point, however, this is the quickest way to share it, otherwise you have to manually enter a string of coordinates pinpointing the exact geographical location and then another set pinpointing the exact time.
Trey is still a few feet away, eying us warily. I motion for him to join us. He glares at Kiernan for a second, then comes over.
“How did he get to London?” Kiernan asks.
“British Airways.”
Kiernan’s brow creases. “Why’s he carrying a key? I can see it through his pocket. Before, you said Katherine wouldn’t allow it. That it could hurt him.”
Trey answers for me. “It was unavoidable. I was under the CHRONOS field when a time shift happened. And . . . I told Katherine I wasn’t leaving. That I volunteer . I can’t be much help to Kate if my memory keeps getting wiped.”
Kiernan still looks troubled, but he hands me back my key and walks over to the registration desk. The woman points to the left, and he heads off in that direction, waving for us to follow.
A few minutes later, we’re in the County Hall Library, which stretches along the front of the building. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves separate the room into semiprivate dining nooks—small round tables covered with white linen, encircled by comfy-looking chairs.
Trey spots Mom and Prudence three tables back, in an alcove with a
As much as I’d like to tell him we shall not , at least not until I have more answers, I don’t like leaving Mom alone with Prudence. I still don’t think she’d actually hurt Mom, although I have to admit that Pru’s current level of instability has made me less certain on that point. Either way, she’s clearly on a mission to convince Mom to accept her version of reality. And in a battle for heart and mind, every second I leave them alone is risky.
There are two other passengers in the elevator, so we don’t talk on the ride down. The three of us just stand against the back wall, awkwardly silent, with Trey casting occasional angry glances at Kiernan over the top of my head. I grab Trey’s hand and lace his fingers between mine, hoping to signal that he has no reason to feel threatened.
If I’d had to guess which of the two would be acting jealous and territorial, I’d have picked Kiernan. But the vibe I’m getting from him is very different from when we were in Georgia. The change in his eyes I noticed earlier is one thing—he looks tired. Resigned, maybe. That spark that’s always present when he looks at me is gone. Well, maybe not gone, but definitely muted. Distant.
His transformation is disconcerting. I almost feel like I’m standing next to a stranger. People can change a lot in six years.
Maybe he’s moved on?
Maybe he’s moved on with Prudence?
Ick . I inch closer to Trey because even if it’s not rational, and totally unfair, that idea bothers me on so many different levels.
Trey and I step into the lobby and Kiernan follows, grabbing my arm to hold me back. “Give me your key,” he says, yanking his own from his pocket.
“Why?”
He rolls his eyes and reaches over, pulling at the black cord around my neck that he knows holds my CHRONOS medallion. His fingers brush against my collarbone for only a moment, but it’s still enough to trigger the shiver I feel when he’s too close for comfort. And as awkward as that is at any time, it’s a million times more uncomfortable with Trey watching.
Kiernan activates his key and slides mine out of the leather pouch that shields the light if you come into contact with someone carrying the CHRONOS gene. He holds the two together, transferring a set of personal coordinates from his medallion to mine. Some stable points, apparently the most popular destinations, are standard to all keys. Less frequently used locations are in the Log of Stable Points that Katherine has back home. With a local point, however, this is the quickest way to share it, otherwise you have to manually enter a string of coordinates pinpointing the exact geographical location and then another set pinpointing the exact time.
Trey is still a few feet away, eying us warily. I motion for him to join us. He glares at Kiernan for a second, then comes over.
“How did he get to London?” Kiernan asks.
“British Airways.”
Kiernan’s brow creases. “Why’s he carrying a key? I can see it through his pocket. Before, you said Katherine wouldn’t allow it. That it could hurt him.”
Trey answers for me. “It was unavoidable. I was under the CHRONOS field when a time shift happened. And . . . I told Katherine I wasn’t leaving. That I volunteer . I can’t be much help to Kate if my memory keeps getting wiped.”
Kiernan still looks troubled, but he hands me back my key and walks over to the registration desk. The woman points to the left, and he heads off in that direction, waving for us to follow.
A few minutes later, we’re in the County Hall Library, which stretches along the front of the building. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves separate the room into semiprivate dining nooks—small round tables covered with white linen, encircled by comfy-looking chairs.
Trey spots Mom and Prudence three tables back, in an alcove with a
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