The Travelers: Book Two by Sennah Tate Page A

going on with Carson.”
    “What’s going on with Carson?” Trick asked, suddenly more awake.
    Aaron glared at him, “That’s what we’re trying to find out, genius.”
    “Oh, shove it, G.I. Joe,” Trick snapped.
    “Both of you shut up and let Gemma talk,” Izzy barked.
    Gemma sucked in a deep breath in an attempt to shake of the desperate shaking sobs that silently wracked her body.
    “He was… obsessed with that video,” she sniffled, “I went to bed… when I woke up he wasn’t there. Well…” she paused, flicking her eyes to Izzy’s before finding the floor again, “he’s there. He’s just not there. ”
     
    <<<>>>
     
    As much as Carson knew he would catch hell for it later, he also knew that he couldn’t leave the fates of those women up to chance.
    He leaned over the blissfully unaware sleeping beauty that he called his girlfriend and gave her a soft kiss on the lips.
    “Please don’t be too angry at me for this,” he whispered.
    The transition came easily now — the connection between Carson, Gemma and the wolf was strong and resilient. He trusted her; this could work, he just knew it.
    Without much of a plan, Carson set off for the warehouse headquarters of Preston Waters.
    The hair on the back of his neck bristled as he made his way through the abandoned industrial section of the city. He could feel the pulsating energy coming from the frenzied and Waters’ minions.
    The stench of vinegar was almost a pleasant distraction from the fetid odor that met his keen nose now — decay and fear.
    A high-pitched scream made his ears twitch.
    Carson padded his way closer to the warehouse, but he felt himself growing weaker.
    The connection to his body seemed to be slipping.
    He looked down and saw that his feet were nearly transparent.
    Another scream.
    He had to save her.
     
    <<<>>>
     
    “What do you mean he’s not there?” Ty asked.
    Gemma swiped the tears away from her cheeks and led everyone into the bedroom she and Carson had been sharing.
    Carson lay on the bed with his eyes closed and his chest rising and falling rhythmically. If they didn’t know better, it would be easy for a person to think him simply asleep.
    Upon further inspection, one could tell that he didn’t react to anything in the room around him. Sounds, light, smells, even temperatures didn’t faze his prone body.
    “Isn’t there anything you can do?” Aaron asked.
    Gemma nibbled her bottom lip and sat on the edge of the bed next to Carson, one hand covering his.
    “Well… There’s one thing…” she muttered.
    “What?” Izzy asked, unable to look at her comatose brother. “Whatever it is, you have to do it. He can’t be out there alone, Gem.”
    “I know! It’s just…” her hands trembled as she tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear.
    Aaron’s heavy hand rested on Gemma’s slumped shoulder, “Tell us.”
    “I…” she started, her voice catching in her throat, “I used to be able to pull him back. But now…”
    “Now the bond is too strong,” Alina finished.
    Gemma’s eyes flew to the redhead; she didn’t even hear her come in, but she was thankful that Alina was there. Everyone believed in Alina’s expertise.
    “Well… yeah,” Gemma answered, “To pull him back I had to sever our connection. I’m just afraid…”
    “If you sever it, it may not be repairable,” Alina finished her thought again.
    Tears filled Gemma’s eyes again, but she was determined to keep them at bay. Carson needed her to be strong.
    “But what if something happens to him?” Izzy asked.
    “She can’t risk losing the connection. If she severs it now, Carson may lose his ability to Travel forever. Without Carson, there’s no one to keep Preston in check,” Alina said with a pointed look at Aaron. She managed to speak Preston’s name without stuttering, but the thought of him was still enough to make her light-headed.
    Gemma held Carson’s hand in hers. She could save him, but would that mean she would