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He hovered behind her, but his presence was reassuring. Protective, even. As minutes stretched on and the waters thinned, she found herself moving forward into shallows that’d dried up.
“Gideon says he’s almost finished securing the cement,” Isaiah whispered, his deep voice almost inaudible.
The question in his voice was undeniable. For a Raeth who’d never seen the intricacies of how an Elemental worked, Gideon’s achievement would be unfathomable. As a thank you for teleporting them here, she answered his unspoken question.
“He most likely wound roots and rock through the base, and solidified the cement behind the breach to make the crack appear superficial.”
A pause. “You’ve done this before.”
“More times that I’d care to admit.”
Something softened in Isaiah’s features as she glanced at him, but Rukia’s attention was redirected when Jeremiah staggered. She knew he was close to failing.
He’d stretched himself thin, and coupled with too little sleep, he was nearing the edge of his abilities. Somehow, Isaiah recognized the same signs. In seconds, he’d appeared at Jeremiah’s side, lending him physical support while he closed his eyes and dug deeper.
That was when she heard it.
Gideon was no longer alone.
The man with the grey eyes wore his arrogance like a second skin, a smug smirk playing across the full lips that lined over a square jaw. If Rukia had been susceptible to a handsome face, she’d have fallen for his. But she wasn’t, and this man was most certainly a threat.
“Gideon, isn’t it?” Velvety smooth, the man’s voice broke through the hissing water like a skilled statesman with the endearing smile to match.
There was no mistaking what this was.
Rukia’s stomach clenched, a riptide coursing through her being. Though the threat against Gideon’s life had been leveled many moons ago, she’d never forgotten it. Gideon had never forgotten it. And apparently, theCitizenshadn’t forgotten it either.
Rukia could see the resignation settle deep behind Gideon’s eyes.
TheCitizenswould take their revenge as promised all those months ago. Even though Rukia internally willed him to leave, the earth Elemental remained sitting up the rock, making no move, betraying no fear.
“I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure of being introduced.”
“Torrin Scayde.” Smug, he assessed Gideon with a keen eye. “My people tell me you’re the monarch of the Elemental nation. Is that true?”
“It is,” Gideon replied without pride. “And it’s my assumption that you lead theCitizens?”
“You’re well informed, Elemental.”
Pulse racing underneath her skin, Rukia turned to watch as Jeremiah’s demeanor instantly changed. Exhaustion wiped away, leaving only aggression behind. He took a single step forward, mirrored by Isaiah’s similar action, but Torrin’s gaze snagged on the movement.
A mocking smile twisted Torrin’s lips as he displayed the gun he held. “Ah-ah. Let’s not be too hasty.”
“It’d take more than one bullet to stop us,” the massive Raeth male growled, prowling instead to Rukia’s side in a protective move. Strangely, the effect was oddly comforting.
“You perhaps, but not him.” Torrin turned the gun on Gideon. “And judging by how busy the Search and Rescue has been the last few weeks, I’d reckon you’re just about to the limit of what you can do. With all the cameras around, it’s imperative you maintain your glamour. Besides, if you take any action against me—make any suspicious moves—my team will detonate dynamite at the base of the dam.”
Rukia’s blood turned to ice in her veins. “You engineered this.”
“There are thousands of lunatics out there.”
“You being one of them?” Gideon asked.
“Going into your territory in Iowa was never going to be feasible,” Torrin shrugged. “Too many of you, too few of us. I’m not willing to sign my men up for death.”
“Just the people in the path of this dam?”
“Fortunately, I have faith your Search and Rescue team will see to that. No loss of human life need occur.”
