Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 109245 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 546(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109245 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 546(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
“Gage.” Adrian sounded exasperated. “Scar has a past that you may not be fully aware of. But at the very least, how can you ignore how he used to treat you when—”
Gage stopped dead and snapped his cane up, knocking the cold steel against Adrian’s chest like a blockade. A hard, unyielding line halting not only his next step but the rest of his sentence.
Adrian sucked in sharp breath.
Gage’s voice went from warm to ice-cold. “Do not speak about my partner. Whatever you read about his past on paper doesn’t mean you know who he is.”
He held his cane there a beat longer, letting his point land.
Adrian didn’t say another word.
Gage finally lowered his hand and kept walking.
Adrian followed a few steps behind, but it was clear the easy camaraderie between them had changed that fast.
He could feel the negative energy drifting off Adrian in tangible waves.
They reached another elevator, and when the doors opened, a mechanical voice inside announced: “Green Ravens Resident. Access restricted. Await verification.”
Gage couldn’t stop his smile.
They stood there in silence, and after a few seconds, the computer announced: “Access granted.”
The elevator rose to the top level, and Zorion was standing there when the doors opened.
“Greetings,” he said, sounding just as happy to see him. “Rose messaged me.”
Adrian tried to step forward, but Zorion blocked his path. “I can take him from here.”
Adrian cursed under his breath as the elevator doors closed him inside.
Zorion leaned into him. “Be leery of him, brother. My hawk has a sixth-sense for deception.”
Gage nodded once. He didn’t need Zorion to say anything more.
Zorion began to walk him towards his and Valor’s quarters.
“You can have our den as long as you need. No one will bother you here.”
“Thank you.”
They stopped near a threshold. “Shoes off.” Zorion said.
A set of doors opened with a soft hiss, and Gage felt the immediate shift in his surroundings.
The air tasted different. Mossy and like wet stones. It was so unusually clean. There were no sterilizers, industrial cleansers, or the metallic tartness of too much tech.
The faint sound of trickling water whispered from somewhere to his left, a steady, patient stream that drew him in that direction.
Under his bare feet was cool, woven bamboo padding. He remembered that texture from when he used to meditate in the gym’s sauna.
“This was designed to comfort the beasts inside us,” Zorion whispered as if this space were truly sacred.
Zorion continued guiding him until he touched a vertical garden wall that spanned as far as his hand could reach. Live greenery crawling up a trellis, damp, velvety-lush growth that breathed under his touch.
“You’re almost at the lotus spring.”
He knelt, crawling toward the sound of tranquility and the scent of soft floral sweetness until his fingertips found the edge of a body of water.
It was so warm and soothing. He imagined it glowing a soft blue or green. He flinched when his hand grazed the wide, waxy petals of the lotus blooms floating across the surface.
The soundscapes alternated between gentle winds and distant animal calls, creating the effects of a world that didn’t belong inside a building…but was.
They have a real freakin’ oasis in their quarters!
Plants. Stones. Water. Wood. Nature.
He was definitely going to ask for some upgrades to his rooms after experiencing this.
Zorion left, and Gage moved through the haven alone, his hands and senses taking over.
After several minutes of just being, exploring and existing, he settled on the ground and breathed life into his lungs until he found stillness.
Time blurred.
He didn’t know how long he’d been meditating when the doors hissed again and footsteps rushed toward him.
Zorion’s voice cut through the den’s serenity. “Gage.”
Something in his tone—that he’d never heard reflect fear—made his stomach sink.
“Scar went off grounds,” he said. “His emergency locator was just activated.”
The words hit like a blow to his throat.
He was already moving with his cane in his hand before his thoughts caught up to his panic.
“War room,” Valor said, holding the elevator open for them.
White Ravens
Gage
The War Room bustled with controlled urgency.
Handlers and members of their field team were already inside.
Gage walked in, not waiting for permission to take command.
“Where is he?”
“They’re pulling it up now.” Roz’s voice was tight.
Seconds later, Jo arrived with her team, Meridian and Grace following close behind her.
“Pull the locator feed and backtrack him.” Meridian gritted.
Roz was in Gage’s ear, giving him a play-by-play of what they were watching.
“The main screen is showing a street view from a high camera angle. He was about twelve miles from headquarters, on foot, unhooded, moving north up F street to 21st.”
“Where is he now?” he barked.
“Gage, stay calm,” Jo ordered.
How the hell was he supposed to do that? Walking down the street wasn’t a cause for him to activate his emergency beacon.
“Two men are approaching him from the front,” Roz said.
Gage’s heart kicked hard, but he forced himself to stay in his seat.