On instinct, Vela met Alison’s gaze and as though flipping an internal switch, she turned the same compassion back on Alison, as though she reflected the woman’s power.
Healing warmth reversed, flowing out of Vela’s mind and heart into the woman whose hand still rested on Vela’s head.
Alison drew back, her brows lifted in surprise. She’d broken the contact and now stared at her hand. “What is that?
What just happened?” But the power still flowed, so she extended her palm toward Alison. “May I?” Alison stared at Vela’s hand for a long moment, then finally nodded.
Vela placed her hand on Alison’s forehead and as more healing flowed, the powerful ascender breathed a deep sigh of relief and murmured, “Heaven.” Vela kept up the process, wondering how this was even possible, how she could actually give back what Alison had given.
When the sensation dimmed, Vela drew her hand back.
“What the hell is going on?” Endelle barked. “We have a warrior to save. What did you just do to Alison?” Vela stared at her own hand. “I’m not sure. I felt she was distressed and offered the same comfort she had just given me.”
“That was amazing.” Alison shook her head, her lips parted, brows raised.
“And I actually feel at ease for the first time in a long time.”
“And that’s what you just gave me.
So, thank you.” Alison smiled, her blue, gold- rimmed eyes full of light. “I’m just amazed.”
“Okay, knock it off with all this touchy-feely shit.” Endelle’s voice rang through the room. “Vela, what the f**k happened when you went into the darkening just now? And by-the-way, you sent your man into a shouting fit. I’ve never heard so much profanity bounce around a room before, unless I’d launched it.” Vela glanced between Endelle and Alison then back. She knew something significant had just happened, more than just giving comfort to Alison, but the scorpion queen demanded answers now.
Fully restored, Vela set her attention on Endelle. “The darkening called me to the Seers Palace. A Third ascender has taken Owen Stannett’s place. I believe he’s the one that held Samuel prisoner all that time, the one called Sharav.” She gave a description of him and Samuel nodded. “That’s probably him.” Endelle turned to Merl. “Does that sound right?” He nodded, his brows drawn together.
“Fuck.” Endelle released a heavy sigh and after a moment addressed Thorne. “I think we have our answer about what happened, and how the three generals knew where and when to attack.”
“Seer information.” Thorne, making use of his deep, gravelly voice, released his own stream of profanity. “I should get over there. I’ll take a division if I have to and tear that goddamn place down stone- by-fucking-stone.”
“I think that’s a plan,” Endelle said.
“But right now, let’s get Duncan out. If this Third ass**le also orchestrated Duncan’s capture, then he might decide to speed up the execution.” Thorne nodded briskly several times, turning toward Samuel. “Since you’ve already been inside the grid, I want you to take lead.” All eyes shifted to Samuel. “The only thing we’re not sure about is how to distract the wreckers so we can attack and get their weapons. We should figure out a way to move in from a flank position, maybe lure a squad of wreckers to us. But how do we trick them?”
“I know what to do,” Vela interjected. “When I was in the darkening, I slipped into Sharav’s head and saw exactly how this would go down, at least the first part of it. Trust me.”
“What did you see?” Samuel scowled.
Vela switched to telepathy and told him what she’d seen in the vision, of herself, naked on the floor.
But Samuel took a step back. “No,” he shouted. “Hell the f**k no.” Vela wasn’t certain what to do or how to convince him this was best, but Endelle laughed and moved in to clap Samuel on the shoulder. “Settle down, warrior. Vela can do this thing.”
“You don’t even know what she suggested.” Endelle met Vela’s gaze. “Sure I do.
I dove straight into her mind and saw what you just saw. Nice ass, by the way. You work out much?”
“Stay on point,” Thorne said.
Endelle rolled her eyes. “Fine.” She addressed Samuel. “Vela’s right. The plan will work like a charm. Three men with weapons, coming across a vision like that? So, get over yourself, or the breh- hedden, or whichever monster has control of you right now.”
“What’s going on?” Leto called out, his deep beast-voice booming through the room. “Can you let us in on this?”
“Vela’s going to play ‘butt-naked decoy’. But you boys just be respectful, which I know you will be.” Thorne and Leto exchanged a glance, then turned a boatload of compassion on Samuel.
“We know what you’re going through,” Thorne said. “Don’t worry.
We’ll keep our distance.” Samuel paled as he said, “Fine. I guess there’s only one more question to ask and answer: Vela, can you move all of us through the darkening at once? This will be a big group.” Vela glanced at Fiona and Alison, Leto and Thorne. “Hell, yeah, I can. And Thorne, you’ll want to be in flight battle gear. And don’t worry, none of you need to be physically connected or anything, not for this trip.” In a blur, Thorne changed.
Samuel took her hand and squeezed.
“Are you absolutely sure?”
“Never more sure in my life.”
Samuel released his dark power, not surprised that all eyes shifted in his direction as his smoky grayle mist rose around him and his energy flowed, strengthening all that he was as a man and a warrior.
He knew the latent streams of power were still there, but for now, he was good.
He turned to Vela, still holding her hand. The soft answering smile eased him as he dipped his chin. “Take us into the darkening.”
“Let’s go.” She might have blinked, he wasn’t sure, but the next moment, as a group, they sped without walking or running, just a swift form of levitation up one darkening grid tunnel after the next. Vela’s power held them together as a group, on and on, following some kind of internal compass that she possessed.
“We’re close to contact,” Vela called out. “As soon as the wreckers stop, fold behind them and do what you do best.” Samuel held his sword in his free hand. Vela slowed their joint movement, then brought the group to a halt. In the near distance an explosion sounded.