Keeping the Genie (Genie's Love, Book 3) (16 page)

It’s dark out, but we won’t be able to hide in the shadows for long. Candon and Merla lead us through the tall grass until we’re standing before a large shack.

“What is this place?” Alaric asks.

Gazing up and down the building, Sebastian says, “Our old home.”

“No one will look for us here,” Candon says. He scans around “Quick. We need to get inside before the guards catch us.”

The place looks to be in terrible shape from the outside, but the interior is much, much worse. The walls seem like they’re going to cave at any minute, the furniture would probably crumble under our weight. But who am I to complain? This place is most likely the last place anyone would look for us.

I can’t believe Sebastian’s family lived in these conditions before they upped their status in Ortarian society. It breaks my heart that there are still many, many Ortarians who come home to this every day. I lift my hands, ready to fix the place up a bit, but then it occurs to me that it wouldn’t be the greatest idea. This rundown place is our cover. If I change it to look like a normal house, we might be exposed.

Merla motions around. “Please make yourselves…comfortable.”

Before we gather on the dirty floor, I use my magic to clean it up a bit. No one utters a word. I’m busy thinking about everything that happened in the last hour. Being betrayed by someone I trusted, someone I was developing a friendship with. Though I understand Salia’s reasons for doing what she did, I don’t think I can ever forgive her.

Sebastian, who is sitting near me, takes my hand and gives me a small smile. I can’t return it, but I rest my head against his chest, showing him how much I appreciate his care.

Renaya is sitting with Alaric at the other end of the room. They’re talking in hushed voices. From the looks on their faces, I can tell they’re discussing leaving the shack to spy on the guards. We need to know exactly what’s going on out there.

“How are you?” Sebastian asks me.

“I don’t know.” I feel numb, but also not. The shock of what happened crashes over me like cement. Salia, who was one of us, betrayed us. Are there others? Before we left to this building, Alaric had me scan the thoughts of everyone here, including Sebastian and his family. I haven’t found anything, but what if a traitor is hiding his thoughts?

Sebastian pulls me close, softly kissing my temple. “If I would have lost you…” His voice trails off and cracks.

I run my finger down his cheek. “Don’t think like that. I’m here and I’m not going anywhere for a long, long time.”

“I just want to protect you.”

“I know.” My lips sweep across his. I wish we were in our own room so I can show him how much I love him. We’re all sitting on the floor, on top of one another because this room—which I would describe as the living room—is tiny. Ten times smaller than my living room back home.

Home. I almost forgot about everyone I left back on Earth. Mom, Macy, hell, even my job. I miss everyone so much. When will I see them again? What if I don’t succeed in killing the king? I know I told Sebastian I’ll be around for a long time, but I also need to be realistic that I might die. Will Mom wonder what happened to me for the rest of her life? Will she die from heartache?

I can’t do that to her. Yet, what am I supposed to do? I can’t leave this place until I kill the king. Even if I do kill him, how do I know for sure if I’ll be able to return home? What if I’m stuck here forever? Alaric said I’ll be able to, but what if he was wrong?

Sebastian’s arms loosen from around me. “What’s wrong?” His face is pinched with concern as he gazes into my eyes.

“I was just thinking about my mom.”

“You miss her. I’m so sorry.”

I don’t say anything. Missing her is an understatement.

Sebastian’s arms come around me. “I have my family with me here in Ortarus while your mom is miles and miles away. In a different world. I’m selfish.”

I place my hand on his chest. “Not at all. You’re lucky you have a chance to rekindle your relationship with your parents.”

“And you with your dad.”

“Yeah, although sometimes I forget he’s my dad and is our leader, you know? The way he behaved when I was nearly poisoned made him seem like a completely different person.”

He nods. “He loves you very much.”

I still don’t know if I can ever get used to that.

Sebastian looks into my eyes. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

I want to shrug, but my shoulders are stiff. “I think I’m okay. I’m just worried about everything.”

He brushes his lips across mine. “Me, too.” He looks around and lowers his voice. “I feel like we can’t trust anyone.”

“I know,” I whisper. “I thought the same thing only a few minutes ago. I scanned everyone’s minds and they’re clear, but…”

“But we can’t really be sure.”

I nod, biting my lip. “Alaric told me that because I’m royal, I have stronger magic and no one should be able to hide their thoughts from me, but I don’t know. I hate having to be suspicious about everyone here. We’re all working so hard to make Ortarus a good place to live in. But still, we’re in a time of war and need to be careful.”

He tightens his arms around me. “You rest and I’ll keep watch just in case.”

“Sebastian, you need rest, too.”

“I’ll be okay.”

I snuggle up to his chest. “I’ll just shut my eyes for a few minutes.”

The truth is, scanning everyone’s minds has taken a toll on my body and as soon as my head rests comfortably on Sebastian’s shoulder, I drift off.

My eyes shoot open to blackness. I’m not sure, but I think I’ve been woken up by someone shaking my shoulder. Squinting, I make out Alaric standing over me with an unreadable expression on his face.

Looking around, I find myself sprawled on the floor, my head resting on someone else’s foot. It all comes back to me. Salia’s betrayal, the rebels moving to Sebastian’s old home. How we’re all cramped in a tiny room.

I sit up. “What’s going on?” My eyes examine the area. “Where’s Sebastian?” Last I remember, he told me to sleep while he kept watch.

Alaric is quiet as he stares at me. My heart skips a beat as hot liquid fills my head. “Did something happen to him?”

He lowers himself next to me and touches my arm. “Renaya left a few hours ago to spy on the palace. She didn’t return, so Sebastian went to look for her.”

My heart pounds as I wait for him to go on. He doesn’t, just looks at me with the saddest expression I’ve ever seen. I want to shake him and demand to know what’s going on, but my limbs are frozen in place.

“He didn’t want to leave you, but he had to go find her,” he continues. He pauses, sighs, and shuts his eyes. “They haven’t returned.”

I glance over at the corner on the right side of the room where Merla and Candon are in each other’s arms. I pull my eyes away. “Where are they?” My voice is a monotone.

“We don’t know. A few others have gone looking for them, but they couldn’t find them.”

I jump to my feet. “I have to go.”

“Lily—” He reaches for my hand, but I pull away.

“I have to find them.”

This time, he manages to grab my arm and stop me from leaving. “Lily, listen to me. You can’t go out there. If you get captured by the guards, it’s over. Your mission is done.”

I shove his hand off me. “That’s all you care about? My boyfriend and his sister are
missing
and I’m going to do everything in my power to save them.”

“Of course I care about that, but I care about you. Lily, I’m not worried about you getting captured because I want you to kill the king. I’m worried because you’re my daughter and I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

“I appreciate your concern, but I can take care of myself.” I head for the door.

“Lily—”

I whirl around. “I’m going to save them.” I don’t care what happens to me—if I get captured or killed. I’m going to risk my life saving the love of my life and his sister. I continue toward the door.

Alaric must have caught up to me because he grabs my hand again. “Just listen to me.”

I stop walking, but don’t turn to face him.

“I’m sending a few others along with you. I won’t let you go alone.”

I’m about to say something, when the door opens and Renaya walks in. My heartbeat slows down as relief washes over me, but then a chill passes down my back. She’s alone.

I rush over to her. “I’m so glad you’re okay, but where is he?”

Her eyebrows knot. “Who?”

“Sebastian. He went looking for you.”

Her eyes widen. “He did? I haven’t seen him. I was hiding from the guards, which is why I’m late.”

I sink down to the floor. Oh no. Sebastian went looking for Renaya, but they hadn’t met up. Where is he?

Renaya’s face is white, but her eyes are hard. Both Merla and Candon are staring at us, their eyes wide as well. The expressions on their faces are utter terror.

Panic overtakes the room as everyone talks at the same time. Oh, god. Sebastian is missing. An ice-cold wave crashes over me and I can’t breathe. My Sebastian might be in trouble.

Alaric bends down to place his hand on my back. “Lily…”

He says words, but I don’t hear them. A pain has entered my chest, a pain I have never felt before. It’s worse than the burn I felt when those shadows attacked me or when I took Sebastian’s disease away. I didn’t think anything could be worse, but this is. It’s as though I’m being torn open and someone is placing scorching coals on my organs. I cry out.

“Lily—”

I just keep crying as the pain intensifies. All the voices and sounds around me blur into an echo, and all I can focus on is this agonizing pain.

A hand squeezes my shoulder, but I hardly feel it. “It’s Sebastian,” Hastus’s muffled voice says. “She’s feeling what he’s feeling.” Slowly, the pain begins to dissolve, thanks to his healing. For only a few seconds before it starts up again. “They have him at the palace and they’re torturing him to death.”

“No!” I yell. I’m not going to let them hurt my Sebastian. I shout at the top of my lungs and focus all my energy on Sebastian, on protecting him. I chant over in my head,
Don’t let him die. Don’t let him die
.

At once, the pain vanishes. I open my eyes and find all eyes on me. Did it work? Or is he dead? I feel in my heart that he’s alive. But how?

Hastus helps me to my feet.

“What’s going on?” I ask.

“You used your magic to place a barrier around him. It’ll protect him, but not for long. We have a short amount of time before it will be destroyed and he will die.”

I gape at him. “How could I place a barrier around him?”

“Because of the love you have for one another,” Alaric tells me. “It’s strong and pure. And of course it’s because you’re the true princess.”

Once again, I sink to the floor as a million thoughts race through my head. My poor Sebastian. Why did he leave without telling me? Why does he always insist on protecting me? He’s been
captured
.

I’m on my feet. “I’m going to rescue him.”

This time, both Alaric and Hastus grab my arms and yank me back. “This is on a whole different scale, Lily,” Alaric says.

I try to pull free. “Let go of me.”

“What’s your plan? To barge into the palace and rescue Sebastian?” Alaric says. “Renaya recently learned that there are thousands of guards protecting Sorenten now.
Thousands
.”

I ignore him and yank my arms, but my dad and Hastus won’t loosen their grip. I know what they’re saying is true. As powerful as I think I am, I’m only one person. They’d fry me on the spot.

“Let go of me or I’ll use force,” I warn.

They sigh and drop their hands. I’m about to head for the door, but stop. It’d be suicide for me to do this on my own. As much as I want to save Sebastian, I’m not crazy.

Renaya steps forward. “Lily, we can all do this. Together.”

Alaric nods. “This is what we’ve been training for. To take on the guards and Sorenten.” He motions toward everyone. “We’re all ready.”

Every single person in the room nods, including Sebastian’s parents. I can’t help but feel relieved. I don’t have to do this alone. We’re in this together.

“What’s the plan?” I ask.

Alaric says, “We take on the guards with our weapons while you take on Sorenten.”

“No, I’m going to rescue Sebastian.”

Alaric shakes his head. “Merla and Candon will rescue Sebastian,” he says. Merla and Candon nod from their corner. Their faces are still filled with terror, but they’ve got determination and confidence mixed in, too.

“Hell no.”

“Lily—”

“Do you honestly think I’m going to battle the king knowing my boyfriend is seconds away from being tortured to death? No. I’m going to save Sebastian and then kill Sorenten.”

Alaric steps close to me and places his hand on my arm. “I know how much you want to rescue Sebastian, but we need to catch Sorenten off guard. If he’s aware that the palace is being attacked, he’ll be ready for you.”

“I don’t care. He doesn’t scare me.”

“Candon and Merla have strong magic—” Hastus starts.

“I know. And I trust them to get Sebastian out safely, I just…” I yank at my hair. “I just feel like this is something I should do.”

Merla walks over to me and takes me in her arms. “Thank you for loving my son and wanting to protect him.” She looks into my eyes. “But your father is right. We need to think of a strategy. Candon and I will rescue Sebastian while you keep the king busy and everyone else keeps the guards busy.”

I want to argue, but as I look at everyone’s faces, I know she’s right. We’re only a few people. There are thousands of guards. If we want to do this right, we need a strategy.

“How are we going to take down the guards when we’re so few?” I ask.

All the rebels stand straight. “We’ll fight until death,” they say. “We’ll fight for our freedom.”

Tears fill my eyes. They’re ready and willing to fight for what they believe in, no matter how risky it is. I need to be on board, to think like that. If my task is to take down the king, then I need to follow through.

I nod to Alaric. “Okay, I’ll battle Sorenten.” My throat gets dry. Saying it these past few days was just that—words. Now that I’m actually going to do this, I want to hide in my bed and never wake up.

Will I survive? Will the rebels? Will I see Sebastian again? Will I see Ortarus transform into the wonderful place it deserves to be?