Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 88025 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88025 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
A glance at the time on the dashboard revealed that it was barely after two. Normally they would still have several hours of driving ahead of them, but conditions were bad and their mood was worsening with Wiley’s news.
“Clay, why don’t we pull off at the next town with a hotel or a motel? The weather doesn’t look to be clearing anytime soon, and it might be more helpful if we pull everyone in on this problem,” Harrison suggested.
The Earth Weaver grunted. “Yeah, I’ve been wondering if we should just call it for the day. Better to stop than have one of us get washed off the damn road.”
Harrison turned his attention to Wiley, who seemed completely miserable as he sat balled up on the other side of the bench seat behind Clay. Baer had to be unconscious because he’d already be calling, demanding access to his mate. The young man was in no way fighting back his worst fears about losing Baer.
Very carefully, Harrison reached out and placed his hand on Wiley’s shoulder. Wiley turned his head, causing tears to slip down pale cheeks. “The goddesses are right. The Weavers have never had soul mates before. There is not a single mention of soul mates in all the Guardian journals. But right now, there are four men with special powers and magical abilities. I think you and the other mates will turn the tide in this fight.”
“But what if we need a fifth to make this work? Hale doesn’t have his soul mate.”
A lump had grown in Harrison’s throat, and he felt like he was going to choke on the words, but he still forced them out with a hint of a smile. “Hale’s mate could still be waiting for him. We could find that person when we stop tonight or maybe in Sedona. We don’t know.”
Wiley wiped away one tear streak with his hoodie sleeve. “Even if we have all the soul mates we need, how do we save them?”
“We’ll keep digging through the spells. The answer must be there. We will find it.”
Harrison wasn’t sure he believed what he was saying to Wiley, but he needed to hear it as badly as the artist and probably even Dane. They would find a way to save the Weavers, because how could the world possibly go on without Hale’s sunshine?
Chapter
Eighteen
Nearly half an hour passed before they were finally off the road and pulling into the large asphalt parking lot of a hotel. The place appeared to be nicer than what they’d been selecting since leaving Savannah, but Harrison had a feeling Clay wanted to hide his mate away somewhere comfortable for the night after the dark conversation they’d had.
Things weren’t going to get any better once they all came together to discuss casting the final spell.
As soon as Clay turned off the engine, Harrison was out of the SUV. He didn’t give a shit about the rain. Hale was the only thing on his mind. Yes, he’d run that morning. Yes, he’d been the one to choose a separate car, thinking that he needed space. But after hours on the road and listening to Wiley’s growing horror over the hopelessness of the situation, Harrison needed to see Hale, to pull him into his arms and reassure himself that the Air Weaver was safe. Only then could his brain start working properly again.
Cold water plastered his hair to his head and dripped down his face. He watched as the other two cars pulled into the lot and parked next to their SUV. Clay jumped out and was already jogging toward the lobby entrance to secure their rooms for the night.
“Thank God we’re stopping,” Gio called out when he climbed from the back seat of the SUV holding himself, Lucien, and Calder. “You can barely see the road.”
Grey parked next and Baer was out of the vehicle before it came to a complete stop. He scooped up Wiley, who was wrapped around the man like a koala clinging to a tree.
“What’s up with him?” Calder inquired.
Harrison knew he should answer, say something about the final spell, but Hale had just climbed out of the SUV with Grey and Cort. Their eyes met and something inside of Harrison fractured. The look of betrayal was gone, but it had been replaced with worry and maybe a bit of sorrow. Where was the bright and shining light that usually came from this man? Did he suspect what Wiley had discovered?
He started to take a step toward Hale, but Lucien’s demand halted him.
“Fuck this rain. Hale, can you do something about this? Maybe use the wind to blow the system away?”
The rain had slowed since they reached the parking lot, but the skies remained an unrelenting steely gray. It didn’t feel as if the rain had plans for stopping anytime soon. But Hale jerked his gaze away from Harrison and stared at the Fire Weaver for a second before giving a stiff nod.