Despairing Tides (Fate's Intent Book 12) by April Bowles Page A

face for the first time. “Whatever it takes?”
    I knew where she was going with this and smiled back. “Hmm. It has been awhile since we’ve been in an outdoor location.”
    “There’s a hot spring back there.” She said as she glanced back into the cave further. “We could relive the first time that got us into this.”
    I smiled and took Ruby’s arm so I could lead the way. “It would be my greatest pleasure to relive that with you.”
    She held close to me and we just kept walking. It was getting darker from walking away from the fire but not too dark by the time we reached the spring and it was perfect. We could still see each other enough to know who we were with and we took it slow.
    I caressed Ruby’s cheek to begin this and she relished my touch. It caused her hands to reach to me and we began to get each other out of our clothes. After all these years she was still just as beautiful as the day I met her. I let her get into the spring first like before and I got in after her.
    She came right in close to me and sat on my lap. We didn’t have to say anything. The moment was perfect, although this time, she was quieter about it with the rest of our family still practically in hearing distance but quiet didn’t mean less fun. In fact, it more or less made it more romantic. I could still feel her breath on me and hear how I made her feel when she was breathing it right in my ear.
    Everything just seemed right again. I would have loved to stay in here with her forever but we had to get some sleep tonight or we wouldn’t want to leave in the morning with everyone else. We almost thought about not but we knew we should have. We could have all the time we wanted together just as soon as we were home.
    We redressed and headed back to the fire. The storm was still going strong outside with heavy rain but everyone was already asleep, Ryon and Ellie, gone. We tiptoed passed them to find a place of our own and I got the chance to hold Ruby in my arms again. It made sleep peaceful even if we were doing it in the dirt but we were together. That’ all that mattered.
     
     

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 17
     
     
    Bryce
     
    We woke to clear skies and sought to start heading back. I was okay with that, I guess. After Ryon and Ellie left last night, we knew it could be a while before we saw them again and had to focus on getting home. They’ve been coming here too much for the Elder’s liking but I knew it wouldn’t be forever. We were beginning to see Ryon as more of a friend than a mentor like we used to.
    We traveled toward Randal for two days but something felt wrong. The skies ahead were dark in an unnatural kind of way and the smell of heavy smoke filled our lungs.
    “What is it?” Adele wondered.
    “Troy! Bryce! Look into it!” Zayden demanded.
    My father and I didn’t hesitate. We used our vision and looked toward the thickening cloud of black smoke taking a hold of the eastern skyline. As soon as my sight reached Randal, I was horrified with the images. Parts of the city were engulfed in flames and the people were running around in a frantic motion.
    “No fucking way.” I said to myself as my only reaction
    “Damn it!” My father shouted.
    “What’s happening?” Mother asked.
    “We have to go!” My father started riding fast to the east without delay to stop this. “The city is under attack!”
    Everyone else gasped with the news and we swiftly rode after him.
    We were nearing the cloud of smoke and could now hear the turmoil within the city. The horrorstruck scene was visible to everyone when we rode to the top of the hill.
    “How could this have happened?” Seth asked in an angry tone.
    Zayden’s brow was crunched and his eyes were narrow as his voice expressed an extreme emotion of revenge.  “I don’t care how. I want to know who.”
    As did we all.

 
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 18
     
     
    Seth
     
    My father started down the hill and no question, we followed. We were all sour