“Out of curiosity,” Ryland said, “you don’t happen to have a small amount of that poison they had in that breached cavity, do you? Or know what was in it or what it was? Kaden was shot when we were sent into the field that first year after Whitney enhanced us. It was one of several missions we had gone on, and all of us were struggling. Kaden was one of the steadiest of all of us, and he’s an anchor, drawing away all the psychic energy so the others could perform. If they use the same poison again, I’d like to be prepared.”
“I’m sorry, I have no idea what it was,” Camellia said. “I might be able to figure out the compound given a little time if that would help.”
“You think you may be able to figure out the compound given a little time?” he echoed. His eyes met Jonas’s over her head. “She’s really amazing, isn’t she?”
How, Camellia?
Not me. I have no idea what it was. I said I might be able to figure it out. I might have help. I’m tired, Jonas.
Jonas couldn’t help the grin. “She is. Come on, baby.” He tugged her hand until she was on her feet, swaying just a little bit until he steadied her with his arm around her waist.
“Thank you, Camellia,” Kaden said. “You saved my life. I won’t forget it.”
“It’s kind of a compulsion,” Camellia explained as Jonas opened the door and stepped out into the hallway with her.
Ryland, Gator, Kaden and Tansy followed behind them. Lily sat on the floor across from the door, knees drawn up. She looked completely devastated. “Ryland . . .”
Ryland ignored her, striding down the hall, back toward the interior of the compound. Over his shoulder, he snapped a command at Jonas. “I’ll expect you to join me, Jonas.” He didn’t wait to hear Jonas’s reply. Gator went with Ryland, matching his commander’s quick, angry strides.
Kyle waited, back to the wall, a short distance away from Lily. “I take it everything is okay with Kaden?”
Jonas nodded. “Thanks for sticking around, Kyle. I appreciate it. Kaden’s fine.”
“I think I’ll stay here for a few minutes,” Camellia said. “You go do whatever you need to, and Kyle can take me to your house when I’m ready to go.”
Jonas studied the compassion on her face and then looked at the misery on Lily’s. I don’t think there’s a way to fix this right now, honey. They’ll work it out.
I know they will.
Jonas could see he wasn’t going to get anywhere by arguing with her. He brushed a kiss along her forehead and followed Ryland and Gator down the hall.
Camellia watched Jonas—her lifeline—go. She stood there a moment, wondering what she was doing. She hadn’t seen Lily since she was a child. She doubted if Lily even remembered her. Lily, no doubt, was embarrassed that Camellia, a virtual stranger, had heard what Ryland had accused her of. Still, Camellia couldn’t force herself to walk away.
Behind her, Kaden and Tansy were talking in low voices, Kaden’s hands moving over Tansy’s in reassurance. Now that Kaden was actually on his feet and proving to his wife that he really was okay, she was weeping softly, and he was comforting her. Camellia glanced up at Kyle. He looked down at his phone, reading the text message there and shaking his head.
Taking a deep breath, Camellia walked over to Lily. “Would you mind if I sat with you for a few minutes? We weren’t formally introduced. My name is Camellia Mist, and I actually was raised with you for a few years when we were children.”
Lily removed her hands from her face just briefly, lifting tear-drenched eyes filled with complete desolation to Camellia. She nodded slightly before lowering her gaze and resting her forehead on her knees.
Camellia accepted the invitation and slid down, sitting beside her, with her knees up and back to the wall. The simple gesture of solidarity brought back memories from her childhood when the children were allowed a few precious minutes together. Whitney didn’t like them to gather together too long because he thought they conspired against him. They hadn’t so much at first, not until they realized that he was the one causing all their pain.
When they were allowed to be together, they would sit with their backs to the wall, facing the windows and vents, paying attention to the cameras to see if the red eye was on, telling them they were being recorded. They’d keep their knees drawn up and speak softly, covering their mouths. Often, they’d sit close, thighs touching just to have some kind of human contact. Most of them wanted to be close to Lily, Flame or Camellia. All three were powerful anchors and drew away psychic energy, allowing the others respite from the constant pain they experienced without the filters to their brains.