Star Gods, стр. 32
“Ashe, why didn’t you tell me?”
“Oh, let’s see,” he shouts sarcastically. “I thought you were human. What was I supposed to do, walk up to the girl I wanted to sleep with and say I could barely heal my brother after he was stabbed?” He plants his hands on his hips, shaking his head in disbelief.
“Ashe…” She reaches for him and he steps away, lifting his hands up, stopping her.
“Get out. I don’t want to see you right now.” He lifts a hand opening the wards and sends Abby through. He closes his eyes and grimaces. “Dammit!”
“What did you do that for?” I shout, rushing at him. “I have a right to know what’s going on!”
“You have a target on your back, Zeke, that’s what’s going on!” Ashe drags his hands through his hair with a cry of frustration.
“Ashe…” he doesn’t respond.
I shove him and he looks at me in alarm.
“Knock it off, Zeke. I need to figure this out.”
“This involves Sage and me and you sent the only one with all the answers through the wards because you’re pissed at her. What the hell, Ashe!”
“Are you finished?”
“No!” I shove him, hard.
Ashe stumbles, somehow managing to remain on his feet. His hand darts out and he grabs me, pulling me to his chest and crushing me.
“Let me go, Ashe!”
“No. Listen to me.”
I weasel my way out of his hold. “Get her back!” I yell feeling hot tears travel down my face.
“I can’t.”
“You can’t or you won’t?”
“Zeke…”
“You…” My anger spikes and I shove him again; this time he hits the floor. “You’re an ass, Ashe.” I walk away then, slamming my temporary bedroom door behind me.
9
I sit uncomfortably in the window, my back against its frame, feeling as the air pushes through the wards and coats my skin. It’s strange how my brothers’ ability works; the wards can keep a threat out, but it allows the air we breathe through; I guess that’s important.
I lightly bang the back of my head against the window frame, my mind going in a million different directions. Ashe keeps pissing me off. Too much is happening, too much is out of control, and all I can think about is how much I need Mom and Dad. Why did Ashe send Abby away knowing she’s the one with all the answers? I really need to talk to her, but the wards are preventing me from leaving.
Or are they?
Sage was able to extract my barrier to cover the blade. What if I used my ability through her? Can I get through the wards then? Or, can I use her to hijack Ashe’s ability to get through the wards?
A knock on the door makes me jump and Tyce pokes his head inside. “Can I come in?”
“As long as you tell me what you know about the Assassins.”
“I don’t know much.” He comes to stand near me with his hands shoved inside his front pockets. “They live and train on the Unknown Planet, are difficult to stop, and it appears you have to be a twin to become one. You thinking about recruiting?”
I shake my head knowing he’s trying to joke and lighten the mood.
He shifts, rocking back on his heels. “Ashe is calm now if you want to try and talk with him.”
I promptly ignore his comment. “The Star Gods are all about protecting and harming none,” I say instead. “Why are some Assassins?”
Tyce shrugs. “I guess they decided they needed protection of their own. Ashe knows more than me.”
I gaze back out the window deciding I need to stop ignoring certain comments. “Not interested in speaking with him right now.”
“I get it, you’re pissed. I am too. Not much we can do about it now. I’m hoping to get him to apologize to Abby. We need her knowledge about all of this.”
I nod absently, my mind already deciding my next move. I only have to wait for Tyce to leave.
He gives my shoulder a squeeze. “We’ll figure this out, Zeke.”
“I know.”
As soon as the door latches, I climb through the window and squeeze myself as close to the wards as I can without touching them. I can’t cover the door with my barrier or it’ll alert my brothers and I have to move fast before Sage figures out what I’m doing. I close my eyes. I don’t have to search for Sage in my mind since we always have a connection, but I have to search for Ashe. I have to go through him; his ability has strengthened and he’ll be a Luminary soon, not to mention he’s the only one who can remove both wards at the same time. Unless his mind is busy thinking about Abby, he’s going to know the minute I try to use his ability. My only saving grace may be he’ll need a few minutes to figure out it’s me, giving me time to get to Abby. Luckily, Sage hasn’t mastered my traveling ability yet, which will give me a few minutes more once I’m found out. If this is doable, I’ve got enough time. If not, well, Ashe will kick my ass for trying. Hell, he’ll kick my ass if I succeed making it a win-win for him either way.
Once I find Ashe there’s no time for hesitation. I strengthen my connection with Sage, and feel her sudden gasp as I do, then quickly shove into Ashe’s. I’ve never done anything like this before and the sensation is weird, almost like eavesdropping in on a personal discussion. I find that small opening just as Ashe feels the intrusion and I grab on fast.
Ashe yells out expletives I shouldn’t share.
I place my hands on the wards and push, nothing happens making me nervous. I only have seconds to do this before Ashe charges in to