The Key to Fear - Kristin Cast Page 0,68

for him.”

Rhett’s brow wrinkled as his expression twisted into shock. “The best place for him is wherever the Key says he should be. My career is no joke, Ms. Wyndham. It takes a certain kind of man to do what I do. To see what I see and not be affected by it.”

With a subtle wave of her hand, Blair shooed Maxine out of the chair and back to her corner. “I couldn’t agree more, Major.” Blair settled into the chair next to him. “A special kind of man. A strong man. An intelligent man. You are that man.” Blair forced the sneer from her lips as Rhett’s chest puffed. “Major Owens, you are the embodiment of who a Key Corp soldier should be.”

Maxine opened her mouth and Blair lifted her hand, catching the go-getter before she spoke. There was blood in the water, and Major Rhett Owens had no idea he was the one hemorrhaging.

Blair wet her lips and continued. “I believe, with your immeasurable skill set, the fact that you are in command of your own squadron, and the superb way you perform under pressure, that you, Major, should have no trouble getting my brother a position in your ranks.”

Rhett swiped the back of his hand down his cheek. “I don’t think—”

“I need you, Major.” The words stained Blair’s tongue, tacky and bitter. “You’ll be doing me a personal favor. And, more importantly, you’ll be directly responsible for the betterment of the Key. Isn’t that what you want?”

His temples pulsed. “Yes, of course—”

“Then it’s settled,” Blair said with a clap. “Major Owens, you and I …” She inhaled slowly, letting the lilting words further ensnare the brute. “We’re going to be the best of friends.”

“A powerhouse.” Maxine added silk to the web.

Blair glanced at the sharp lead points jutting out from the vase on her desk. “Rule makers, Major. And wouldn’t you like to make the rules?”

The bright amber of Rhett’s eyes thinned as his pupils dilated.

Blair’s stomach fluttered and her breath hitched as the air around her seemed to tremble. Rhett had stumbled into her web.

Stars wiggled overhead as Elodie walked toward the river. Each inch, block, mile that the MAX put between her and Gwen had taken a piece of her with it. Not a bad piece. Not a piece of her foundation. Not a piece that left pain in its absence. The walk had smoothed away the hard edges left behind by her mother’s chisel-tipped words. Elodie had even decided to text an apology to Rhett for leaving him at her house—but not just yet.

A group of girls laughed as they crossed the street in front of her. Their Violet Shields bobbed as the trio hurried to beat the orange light flashing at them from the crosswalk sign. Elodie finally activated her own shield. She wanted to blend, be invisible.

She didn’t wait for the crosswalk sign to illuminate white. Instead, she darted across the nearly empty street, stopping only when she reached Salmon Springs fountain. The way the spray swayed in the breeze, each spout reaching for the next until they were one, until they were touching. How many times had she seen the arching waters and not noticed their beauty?

Sure she was alone, Elodie clicked the button on her cuff and the purple haze around her dissipated.

Elodie was blind to the real world around her. Aiden had been right.

Aiden.

Her heart clenched.

Boots pressed heavy against the pavement behind her. “What are you doing here?”

Elodie stiffened as the familiar footsteps, familiar voice, familiar pine scent, splashed against her back. She had escaped her house, fled to the MAX, to the core of the city, to find freedom and space and—

“Aiden.” Her breath trembled as she turned to face him. The roaring fountain did nothing to drown out the heartbeat thrumming between her ears. “I needed to be alone.” She blinked rapidly but couldn’t keep the tears from spilling down her cheeks. Her numbness faded, and her armor fell in a battered heap around her feet.

Aiden took a step forward, stiffened, and retreated. “I’m sorry, Elodie. I—” He clenched and unclenched his fists. “I should have …” He sagged. “I’ll leave you alone.”

“Don’t.” The word flew from her lips in a sudden burst.

Aiden’s gaze rested against hers. “I don’t know what to say.”

Elodie brushed the tears from her cheeks as she dropped onto one of the wide stone benches ringing the fountain. “The truth.”

He took a seat next to her. A gust of pine caressed her as