The Travelers: Book Two by Sennah Tate Page B

lose him? Without their connection, would Carson even be interested in her anymore?
    She searched for their connection, struggling to find it. It was weak — barely there. It would be like ripping a paper chain at this point. She took a deep breath. She could do this.
     
    <<<>>>
     
    He realized too late that it was the trap his friends had warned him about.
    The screams were real this time; the women Preston Waters held captive were chained and slowly drained of their life by the shadows.
    A low growl came from Carson’s throat as he watched the shadows strike out and mark the flesh of the captives.
    “I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist,” a familiar voice crooned from behind.
    Carson turned and saw Preston with five burly henchmen surrounding him — they weren’t human any more. The shadows that controlled the men had morphed their body to grotesque, almost cartoonish proportions.
    The wolf’s ears laid flat and his tail pointed straight out as he snarled and growled at the people eying him with malice.
    “Is that any way to greet an old friend?” Preston laughed.
    Carson lunged at him, teeth bared.
    An invisible force stopped him and he struggled to breathe.
    No, it wasn’t an invisible force — it was a chain.
    The chain tightened around his neck.
    “Funny, you wouldn’t think that something so simple would be able to stop you, eh?” Preston laughed.
    Carson caught a glimpse of the black metal choking him. It seeped the energy from him, sapping him of his strength as his silvery glow faded.
    His vision tunneled and the last thing he saw was Preston’s crazed smile.
    “Don’t worry, buddy,” he said with a pat on Carson’s head, “I have great plans for you.”
    The wolf whined before he lost consciousness.
     
    <<<>>>
     
    “Well?” Aaron asked after a few moments of silence.
    Everyone seemed to be at a loss. This was new territory for all of them. Gemma didn’t want to risk losing her connection with Carson, but if the choice was between losing the connection and losing him, she knew what her decision would be.
    Carson’s face grew ashen and pale.
    Gemma lost her grip on the connection.
    “What is it?” Alina asked, sensing that something wasn’t right.
    “The connection,” Gemma said, “it’s so weak. I don’t know why.”
    “Perhaps he’s already tried to sever it to come back?” she suggested.
    Gemma pondered the possibility. Did Carson know the consequences? He’d made her promise long ago to never pull him back. But that promise was made before all of this. Before they really knew what was going on.
    She felt for his heartbeat and found it thready and irregular. He was holding on, but just barely.
    “You have to do something!” Izzy cried, noticing the bluish color creeping into his lips.
    Gemma held Carson’s hand in her lap and placed a kiss on his palm.
    “Please forgive me,” she muttered.
    In her mind, she saw the chain that connected them; she latched onto it with both hands and started to pull it apart.
    As the connection frayed and stretched, sharp pain shot through Gemma. She felt like she was having a heart attack. Her body trembled with the effort.
    She couldn’t lose focus now though. She had to bring Carson back. Even if that meant losing him in the process.

Chapter Ten
     
    “Wait!” Izzy cried, pulling Gemma out of her focus.
    Gemma’s eyes opened and the room swam before her. Her hand went to her temple in an attempt to steady herself.
    “What is it?” she asked.
    Izzy looked suddenly reticent to have all the eyes on her. When she was arguing or cracking jokes it never seemed to bother her. But with this new-found ability, she was insecure.
    “I… I don’t think you should break your connection,” Izzy said.
    All the eyes still rested on her, waiting for elaboration.
    “Izzy… is this one of your feelings?” Gemma asked.
    Isabel nodded, looking to Aaron for reassurance. His hand snaked down to the small of her back and gave her the strength