“As long as Talbott doesn't die first, fighting for the wrong side,” Jericho mumbled, killing the moment.
I sighed, realizing he was right. “Anyway, where am I doing this whole prisoner exchange?”
“Morocco, there is an isolated air strip in the middle of the Sahara that our two sides have used before for situations like this,” Jericho explained, turning his attention back to his soup.
“Well, the good news is, I was kind of disappointed that I missed the sight-seeing when we went to London instead.” I smiled, trying to shake off the growing nerves and buzzing magic.
“Well, good.” Jericho wasn't quite sure how to respond to my nonchalance. “The advantage the desert brings, is, that you'll be able make a circle of the area and have a visual of what you're up against before you land.”
“A circle of the area? Did we forget that I can't fly a plane?” I asked, realizing my plan might be dead in its tracks.
“I've thought of that, and if you really trust Talbott, then I suppose you can let him pilot. He should know how. Or you can trust your magic, but somehow I don't think you'll agree to that.” Jericho looked up at me from underneath thick, dark eyelashes and for a moment I wanted to forget the whole trip and never leave his side again. Then, I remembered Lilly and knew that I had to do everything in my power to get her out of there.
“Ok, but how will I get out of there, after the exchange?” I asked, trying to think the whole plan through.
“Lilly can fly you home, as long as she isn't incapacitated for some reason. Otherwise, you really will have to use your magic. Or, I can go with you; that would solve all of your problems.” His expression flickered with hope. I knew he was serious, and trying to hide behind sarcasm, and I found it endearing for some reason. I stared at him for a moment, finding his eyes and letting them hold me. There was nothing special about our conversation or anything that he was saying, but something about his concern for me, and willingness to support me in whatever I decided, helped me take another step away from Kiran, helped to loosen his hold the smallest amount and fall that much more for Jericho.
“Does everyone know how to fly a plane, except me?” I asked, feeling myself flirting for the first time in a very long time.
“Um, yeah, I think so,” he laughed. “Part of it is magic though, and the other part is this global lifestyle we live.... Eden, there's something else I need to talk to you about.”
“Sure,” I smiled, my charming smile, hoping Jericho felt like he could talk to me about anything.
“Something else happened while you were out of it,” he started nervously and I sat up straighter, prepared for whatever news was coming. “Angelica called Silas, who called Gabriel.... Your parents are in Omaha. They want you to go back, they're waiting for you.”
I sat in stunned silence for a few minutes, staring past Jericho at a spot on the wall I wasn't really seeing. I had been thinking about going back to Omaha. I wondered if we, or at least I, needed a place to regroup and figure out our next step, strategically. I was exhausted from the constant traveling, and I was desperately homesick for Aunt Syl, after Kiran mentioned her so callously on the elephant. Intuition was guiding me to check on her.
However, my parents waiting for me was an entirely different story. I started this whole thing by looking for them, but now that the time was here, I couldn't decide if I was emotionally ready. I supposed I didn't have a choice, and I would have a couple days to prepare, but this life I was living was non-stop physically and emotionally.
“Ok,” I sighed, searching for the strength to sound confident. “I have been thinking about going home anyway.”
“We don't have to go if you don't want to. We can go to South Africa or even straight to Romania, if you want. It's up to you.” Jericho reached out both hands this time, taking mine in a comforting gesture.
“No, it's all right. It's time, I suppose. I'm only seventeen, it's probably time I met my birth parents,” I tried to joke, but it came out flat and overly sarcastic. “You go to South Africa, get the last team and then we'll rendezvous in Omaha. Now that Avalon is healed, we can at least create a plan of attack, I can't fail like that again,” I referred to losing Avalon, knowing that if I tried again and failed, Avalon would not survive. “The farm is flattened, but there is enough room at Amory's for everyone to stay. Aunt Syl will have the key. As soon as I get Lilly, we will head straight back.”
“That is very decisive of you,” Jericho teased. “You're turning into quite the leader, Eden.”
“It's only taken me this long to learn how to make a decision on my own, just think what another ten years might accomplish,” I laughed, but Jericho was right. Decisions were getting easier, tough choices were becoming a part of my daily routine. I was getting the hang of leading. I was letting go of Kiran, daily. I was reclaiming bits and pieces of my attachment to him and I was even releasing my desire for vengeance in honor of the collective goal.
Still, I knew that Avalon would have made a better leader. I was not blind to my weaknesses. All I could do was focus on the task at hand, and so far, this looked like the most promising mission yet.
To get Lilly back.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“Talbott, if anything happens to her, I will hunt you down myself, is that clear?” Jericho threatened with every intention of following through.
“Jericho, I understand. I've told you a million times, nothing is going to happen to her. This is not a trap.” Talbott put a strong hand on Jericho's shoulder as if comforting him father to son.
I turned my head to keep from laughing at the look of shock that flashed across Jericho's face. Talbott was considerably calmed down since we put the plans for the prisoner exchange into motion. I knew he was looking forward to being in control of something again, and from past experiences, I knew how hard it was for him to be away from Kiran, but I wanted to believe that it was something more. Lilly's safety appeared to be enough leverage to incentivize Talbott and I wondered if one day, she would be enough to bring Talbott to our side.
“All right, you should go. Get this over with and then get out of there, yeah?” Jericho turned to me, pulling me into a hug. His magic buzzed around mine in excited nearness, but mine was reserved, afraid to attach itself to more magics.
“Yeah,” I whispered into his chest, not wanting to let go, despite the uncomfortable closeness of his magic. The relentless electricity driving my rapid circulation left me drained and completely exhausted, but Jericho was my rock. His presence alone provided perfect comfort and when we touched, I couldn't help but feel hope deep in my bones that everything was going to be Ok.
He kissed the top of my head, and then my cheek as if he couldn't help himself. I reluctantly let go of him and joined Talbott in the Cessna that even he marveled at. Talbott closed the door behind us and I followed him into the tiny cockpit. Not that it would have made any difference if I were sitting with him or not, because there was absolutely no way for me to be sure he was going where he was supposed to; but I felt like my presence would at least pressure him to stay accountable.
“Now you're sure you know how to fly this thing?” I asked, hesitantly letting go of irrational fears, like him crashing my grandfather's plane into the side of a mountain.
“Yes, Eden, of course.” He turned and grinned at me. His deep chocolate eyes were twinkling with the same excitement that Titus had when he flew. I inwardly sighed, boys and their toys.
I leaned back in my chair, and tried to get comfortable. The nine-hour trip to the Sahara would allow Talbott and I a lot of time to get to know each other.
“I'm sorry we had to tie you up before,” I offered an apology in the awkward silence once we were in the air.
He looked at me, unsure what to say, or how to react, but I just smiled. Talbott and I had our differences from the very start, but I knew that if there wasn't a civil war in between us right now, we could have learned to get along.
“I accept your apology,” he replied chivalrously, after the initial stupor wore off. “Besides, you are not technically to blame. From what I gather, you were not conscious.”
“True, but still, I'm the.... leader and all that,” I struggled getting the words out, knowing they would fall flat in my mouth. Talbott would never really see me as the leader of the Rebellion. I could hardly take myself seriously when I thought about it and someone like Talbott, with military training and on the winning side, certainly wouldn't be able to say those words without laughing.
“Yes, but maybe your brother would have and that is the kind of leader they are used to,” Talbott argued wisely, changing my mind about him. “You are not only trying to transform my side of the war, but your side as well, I think.”
“Talbott, I'm not a revolutionary, I just want revenge for what happened to my family,” I mumbled, embarrassed by his view of me.
“You want more than that,” he said seriously and I knew that he was right. I had started to believe in more than just revenge, but at times, it was just easier to dwell on retribution.
“So, if something were to happen to you, like you crashed the plane into the ocean or something and we both died, is there a stand in for you? Like, someone to replace you?” I pried, trying to lighten the mood with some morbid humor.
“Of course, Kiran has nearly an army of personal Guards. If something happened to me, there would be hundreds more to choose from. However, it would take more than a plane crash into the ocean to kill me.” He tilted his head, weighing the idea thoughtfully. His thick, flowing accent made his words run together like cursive.
I found Titan magic easier to be around than Witch or Medium magic. Titan magic, less electric and more fluid, was based more in movement and the actual action of thought processes than blood and brain. Witch or Medium magic created action. It was as if Titan magic was action, so it didn't pop or sizzle, it didn't get frenzied or invasive, it just stayed calm and relaxed, already prepared for battle and five steps ahead of everyone else.
Because of Talbott's relaxed magic, my magic calmed considerably in his presence. His magic stayed completely separate from mine and I finally found the breathing room to relax a little.
Even still, my energy was panicked, my blood burst with too much electricity and I was exhausted from the effort of holding it inside. I hoped this trip would give me the rest I needed to recover before I got back to Omaha. Shape-shifter magic was not as aggressive as the rest either, but it was more so than Titan, especially right before a shift. I hoped that Lilly wasn't going to need to shift anytime soon.
“I am so excited to see Lilly!” I exclaimed, forgetting that Talbott and I were enemies. “This had better go as planned, Talbott, or I'm going to be very mad.” I turned serious, shaking my finger at him.
“Eden, this is not a trap. There will not be Titans waiting for you, you have my word,” he was serious enough that I believed him. “When we land, I mean, before you take off again, if it's not too much trouble.... What I am trying to say is, if there are a few extra minutes, would you mind if I spoke to Lilly alone? Just for a few minutes, I won't be long, I can assure you,” Talbott stumbled through an adorable request, and I found myself cheering for their relationship even though I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that it not only made absolutely no sense, it would also never work.