CHAPTER 1 

   Alone…The word rattled around in my mind as I glanced about the Canadian forest. The wilderness we’d escaped to, but would never hold my freedom. It was as my birth mother Sahara had said; I’d be fighting this battle alone. But that’s what I’d been created for. I was a weapon with the sole purpose of defeating the one who wanted to destroy us all…Marcus.

   I’d been right from the beginning, had told my family all along that I was nothing more than this. But they worked hard to sway me otherwise; they had given me their love and trust, and almost convinced me, until now. We’d all been so wrong.

   It would have been easier to stay with Marcus in that dreary gray compound. I wouldn’t have to see the despair, the hurt and betrayal of those closest to me. Now my rescue had changed all our fates.

   Changed them forever.

   What hurt worst of all was that Callon thought I’d betrayed him—but I hadn’t meant for it to be like this. By uniting in marriage to Marcus, I’d inadvertently given him the Consilador clan’s powers, instead of restoring them to Callon. Marcus had lied to me— and I believed every word. But there had to be a way to restore them. I was after all united with Marcus; I’d have the Consilador’s powers as well. And if I had their powers, I should be able to return them to them…but finding out how was the least of my worries at the moment.

   Tears I couldn’t stop streamed down my cheeks. Colt drew me closer, as I watched Callon walk away into the wilderness. Nakari tagged along behind him, till he pushed her away. Even she couldn’t comfort him now. I’d wounded him deeply, too deeply for forgiveness. The one promise I’d made—to not break his heart—and I had.

   Nakari’s words stung, and I let out a shaky breath. Maybe Marcus was all I ever deserved after all. It was true, my mother’s journal pages told me the truth. They’d given me up to protect me, but in reality it was to protect their weapon. Regardless of Colt’s cruelty while I was captive with Marcus, his words hit home. I was never loved by my parents, or they would’ve never condemned to me to this fate.

   I pushed away from Colt, but he caught my arm as I tried to walk away.

   “Cheyenne?”

   He didn’t want me too far away, not after he’d risked his life to get me back. I looked to the forest floor, avoiding eye contact, and pulled away. I moved to sit on a fallen tree while Maes, Brogan and Koda talked out their escape plan. They needed to escape, and I needed to wait till Marcus came again. It was never going to be over as long as I was with them. I was sure I’d have to watch them die, one by one…

   A dark shadow loomed above me.

   “We need to leave,” Maes said. “We need to get as much ground between you and Marcus before his powers are regained. He’s going to be coming for you and it won’t be like before. He won’t stop till he has you.”

   “Leave me here,” I replied. “He only wants me.”

   “No,” Maes said, his French accent thickening with irritation. “I may not understand what’s taken place, but right now you’re a danger to us and you can’t be left alone.”

   I swallowed hard. I should have seen it coming, should have known Maes would see me as a threat, not that I could blame him. Regardless that I knew I had to marry Marcus, I still was unsure how this would help me defeat him. And keeping this fact to myself was in my best interests right now. The others already thought I’d made a huge mistake—telling them I wasn’t sure where to go from here would make it even worse. I stood and followed him to Midnight, Koda’s enormous black horse.

   Koda’s sympathetic icy blue eyes met mine. I also should have known that I’d not be allowed to ride alone, and not allowed to ride with Colt. Both Colt and I were a threat, an unknown factor, ones that had betrayed the family’s trust.

   The sunlight trickled through the trees as we rode on. The familiar ache in my head was growing. I closed my eyes willing it to disappear, but even as the time passed it remained. It was only a matter of time till it took over and I’d go through another transformation, one that would forever unite my powers with Marcus.

   I rubbed my temple. It’d happened to a degree while I was with Marcus, after almost uniting my powers with Callon. Marcus had said I’d be disoriented for a few days, and I’d slept for three days while with him. Marcus was considerably stronger than Callon, how long would this go on? I didn’t have three days, let alone anything longer for recovery.

   “You okay?” Colt rode closer, reaching out to touch my arm.

   I avoided his eyes.

   “What’s wrong, Cheyenne?” Koda’s breath trailed across my neck as he leaned forward.

   “Are you feeling ill?” Daniel chimed in as he too closed the distance between us.

   Brogan gave a disgusted snort.

   “I’m fine.” I brushed Colt away and drew Koda’s cloak around me. I didn’t need their sympathy.

   They didn’t push the matter, for that I was grateful, but Daniel and Colt kept close and I could tell that Koda’s hold changed. He pulled me closer against his chest, his muscles tense.

   We continued on through the forest, morning turning into late afternoon. It was odd, for as much as Maes had said we needed to keep our distance from Marcus, we didn’t seem to be riding that fast.

   Where were the Trackers, the Tresezes? I knew the Ghosters weren’t a threat anymore; they typically only tracked Timeless children before they transformed. But Raina, I’d have thought she’d make an appearance.

   I leaned forward and glanced about. It’d been a quiet ride, everyone in their own thoughts, their faces still glum. It was if they’d paired up in groups of sorts, the Cheyenne supporters and the non.

   Daniel, and Colt flanked our right side, while Brogan, Maes, and Nakari were on our left. Andre, Bree, Clayton and Skylar seemed to be right down the middle. The rest, well, they’d choose sides when we caught up with them.

   My eyes wandered back to Nakari. She looked the worst by far. Her auburn hair hung limply over her slouched shoulders and her head hung low. A shiver escaped her and she pulled her jacket up further. Her head turned slightly to the right as a deer stopped grazing and watched us pass.

   She didn’t understand, and no matter how much I’d try to tell her I did this for her, she’d always blame me. As if on cue she looked up, and her green eyes glowed with hatred. I turned away. Even if I had my mother’s journals and allowed her to read them, chances were she’d interpret them differently—chances were they all would.

   I knew the message in them, and I hadn’t come to my decision lightly. Even now parts of the journal rambled away in my thoughts.

   “They will be strong, and they will know what needs to be done when the time comes. They will see, like I did, that there is only one way to defeat…they will be stronger than I ever was.”

   I had to be strong where my mother never was, she’d told me.

   I was never strong enough…but you will have your father’s powers. You will be stronger… You will understand what needs to be done.

   It’s your strength, your love and your determination…that will defeat him. You will be hurt… You will be judged… You will face this burden alone. It’s only you—it’s only your powers—.

   Keep your allies close, and your enemies closer.

   This is your destiny, your destiny alone.

   It was always my destiny, my powers, my enemy. It couldn’t be shared.

   A black streak darted into the forest. Maes had seen something. We stopped and Koda drew me further into the cloak. I knew we couldn’t disappear because of the daylight, but he could keep me hidden from view for the time being.

   Midnight gave a loud snort and Sam joined him. Colt’s leg rubbed up against me as Sam pushed him into Midnight.

   “Whoa, boy,” Colt cooed.

   Koda tensed for a moment, then drew the cloak open. Hoof beats sounded in the trees.

   “I think Dex and Lilly caught up with us,” Koda said.

   I lowered my head. Dex and Lilly. I knew I’d have to face them, but I was hoping to have more time. I wasn’t ready to see the disappointment in their eyes.

   Colt dismounted and plucked me from Midnight. I stayed beside Midnight, trying to stay hidden from their view. Colt’s hand came to rest on my shoulder showing his support.

   The galloping of hooves came to an abrupt stop.

   “Where is she?” I heard Dex’s panicked voice.

   “Cowering behind Koda,” Brogan sneered.

   “Cheyenne?” The desperation in Lilly’s voice nearly drove me to tears before I even saw them.

Colt encouraged me forward and Lilly and Dex crushed me in their arms.

   “Oh, Cheyenne,” Lilly sobbed, her cheek pressing against mine.

   “You’re safe now,” Dex cooed stroking my head. “We’ll find the braid and…”

   They didn’t know. My throat grew tight and I pushed them away. My hands began shaking, and tears formed in my eyes.

   “What?” Lilly reached out to pull me back, her long black braid falling forward.

   “Go ahead and tell them, Cheyenne,” Brogan growled. “Tell them how you sold us out to Marcus!”

   “She didn’t sell us out, Brogan!” Colt shot back. “She did what she thought was right at the time. We all make mistakes…”

   My breath caught. Colt thought I’d made a mistake? Even he didn’t understand…

   “Like you?” Maes chimed in. “You brought her to his doorstep!”

   I moved back, distancing myself from all of them, while Dex and Lilly stared at me.

   “Stop it!” Koda boomed and leapt down from Midnight. “There’s always a reason! Give her a chance to explain!”

   “That right, Cheyenne, here’s your chance right now to explain to Dex and Lilly why you married Marcus!” Brogan snapped.

   “You…you married him?” Dex repeated in utter shock, his face growing white.

   My foot caught on a stump, and Daniel caught me. He drew his arm around me.

   “Just tell them like you told us, Cheyenne,” Daniel said near my ear.

   My lower lip began to tremble.

   “It was my destiny,” I whispered.

   Lilly stepped closer, her blue eyes searching.

   “Why?” she said.

   “My mother’s journals.”

  “I don’t understand, Cheyenne,” Dex moved forward. “What was in your mother’s journals that convinced you to marry Marcus?”

   “Bits and pieces of her mother’s journals,” Brogan added.

   Dex glanced back at him and then focused his attention on me again.

   “You found parts of it?”

   I nodded.

   “What did these parts say?”

   I closed my eyes. This was getting worse by the moment.

   “It—it told me why she left. She was weak. She found my father with the sole purpose of creating me—a weapon.”

   Lilly gasped.

   “My mother knew that by uniting powers with my father, they stood a chance. But there was a catch. I’d have to marry Marcus…”

   “To unite with his powers…” Dex whispered and lowered his head. Wisps of his brown hair fell in his eyes.

   Did he understand? He looked back up, but his hazel eyes grew distant. “Do you realize what you’ve done, Cheyenne? You’ve also given Marcus the Consilador’s powers.”

   Nakari now stood beside Lilly, placing her arm around her shoulder. Tears streamed down Lilly’s cheeks and Layla moved beside her too.

   Layla was here now too, and the shock and dismay grew in her eyes.

   “But…”

   Brogan cut me off, pushing Layla, Lilly and Nakari behind him and towering over me. “But what, princess? You’ve said enough already. There are no more words for your betrayal.”

   I wanted to say so many things, tell them how sorry I was, that I’d work to gain the Consilador’s powers back, but I knew it didn’t matter. I’d already apologized to the group and it didn’t change a thing. I was in this alone. I was the one who betrayed their trust. I was the one who’d most likely destroy them all. I was no better than Marcus.

   Dex turned and walked away, shaking his head in disbelief.

   It was too much. I shoved Daniel off and ran towards the forest.

   “Stop her!” Brogan yelled.

   Colt caught me by the arm and pressed me into his chest, holding me close. His hand began stroking my back as my tears continued to fall. It was bad enough being a failure to everyone, but I couldn’t bear the complete and utter despair in Dex and Lilly’s eyes. It hurt too deeply.

   “Give Dex time, Cheyenne,” Colt said. “They both need time to understand it.”

   “Even you don’t understand it, Colt!” I snapped. “You think it was a mistake, you just said so.”

   He didn’t reply, but instead rested his chin on my head.

   “Leave me here, let Marcus find me,” I whispered. “It’ll be safer for everyone…”

   “No!” Colt’s hold grew tight. “I just got you back, I’m not letting go again. We’ll find a way around this, I promise.”

   The only way I saw around this resulted in death.

   “We need to leave,” Daniel said.

   Colt released me, but instead of leading me to Koda, he helped me mount Sam.

   “She rides with Koda, Colt,” Brogan said.

   Colt ignored him and mounted behind me.

   “We’re not being followed, and she’s not going anywhere. She’s riding with me.”

   Brogan’s jaw firmed and his brown eyes darkened. “We’re not being followed because Marcus already has what he wants, her powers! He’ll come for her, mark my words, he’ll want to remove the weak link.”

   “Let it go, Brogan,” Koda said, moving between us.

   Brogan was right. I was the weak link…

   Maes’s jade-rimmed eyes narrowed for a moment, and then he shifted into his Tresez form, before leading us off into the forest again. Layla rode beside Brogan and touched his arm. He softened, but not before he gave me a sidelong glance. I was back to being lower than pond scum with him.

   Colt kept me close as we rode, his chin leaning against my head. His familiar musky scent drifted around me and I couldn’t help but inhale. Regardless of all that had transpired, I’d missed him, but I was married now and everyone around me was in danger…especially Colt and Callon. I had to keep my distance.

   Callon had still not returned to our group. Even if he did, I knew he’d refuse to make eye contact with me. He was angry, hurt and powerless, all because of me. I’d handed over not only his powers, but also the entire Consilador’s clan’s powers. Unknowingly or not, the fact remained. I’d left them unprotected, unable to defend themselves—trapped, just like me.

   But surely I could change their fate, unlike mine, and get their powers back…I just had to figure out how.

   Afternoon transitioned to evening and the forest grew darker. We didn’t stop and neither had the pain in my skull. I could feel myself growing weaker, but more concerning was the fact that Callon hadn’t returned yet.

   “Will he come back, Colt?” I asked.

   “I don’t know,” he replied, “and I can’t ask him, either.”

   I pressed my eyes closed for a moment. He’d lost his telepathy because of me.

   “I’m sorry,” I murmured.

   “It’s going to take time, sweetheart, time for everyone to come to grips with this new situation.”

   Situation he said, but I knew it was their death sentence.

   He sighed and kissed my head.

   “You’re exhausted. I know how long it took you to recover from the failed marriage with Callon. I also know the joining of powers is going to be worse for you. We’re not going to stop, so close your eyes and rest. Marcus isn’t coming.”

   I didn’t want to listen to him, but as each hour passed it was becoming harder and harder to keep my eyes open. Charlie snorted beside us and Daniel stretched out his arm, handing me a small blanket.

   “This will help keep you warm, Cheyenne.” The moonlight shone through the trees letting me see his saddened eyes. “I didn’t know how we’d find you, I—I wanted to bring you something that reminded you of home.”

   “Thank you,” I whispered close to tears once again. Daniel was always thinking of me.

Colt helped drape the blanket over me and I turned myself more into his chest. The rhythmic sounds of his breathing, like how it used to be before my life had been turned upside down, helped lull me to sleep.

   My hands drifted over the soft grasses of the valley, tickling my palms. A mountain lake lay ahead. The clear skies caused the sun’s rays to dance over the water as if it were glass. Not a ripple distorted the surface; it was perfect, just like this moment.

   A tall figure moved in the distance, but I wasn’t concerned, I knew who was coming to me, Callon. His brown wavy hair framed his face perfectly, his white shirt was unbuttoned exposing his brawny tanned chest, his khaki pants hugged his frame well. A smile emerged from his rugged features, his hazel eyes lit up as he neared, and he stretched out a hand for me to join him.

   I had no fears here, for once my heart felt light and carefree. For once my heart was singing with happiness. A small breeze drifted over us and I inhaled the scent of wildflowers tickling my nose. I closed my eyes, wanting to lock this moment away, this perfect moment, this perfect place.

   Thunder suddenly rolled across the sky and my eyes shot open to see lightning trailing black clouds. A howling wind swept over the valley knocking me to the ground. I fought to stand.

   I struggled to my feet as lightning-laden clouds dropped from the skies. The earth shook from the thunderous blasts and Callon tumbled to the valley floor.

   “No!” I screamed and ran towards him.

   A lightning bolt sizzled beside me, tossing me to the side. I crawled to my feet again as the raging storm heightened. A crack of lighting whipped its way across the sky and smacked into Callon. I lost my breath as I watched his body fly through the air. Another strip of lightning snapped at his chest, and then another and another.

   “No, Callon! No!” A gut wrenching bellow came from within.

   I threw my hands out, summoning the winds and light, but nothing happened. I gritted my teeth and fought to pull out that crimson-eyed creature, but it remained dormant, nothing came to life.

   Hands grabbed at me, strong hands that wanted to force me down, force me to submit.

   “You have nothing, my angel,” a voice whispered near my ear. “What you have will be taken from you…they all will die. You no longer have any control, I do.”

   That voice…Marcus!

   I struggled to turn and face him, to claw at his eyes, but with each movement I made I was knocked back down to the valley floor.

   “Cheyenne!” a deep voice roared. “Cheyenne! Wake up!”

   “No!” I fought the arms that held me down. “I’ll kill you!”

   “Cheyenne.” A soft hand touched my cheek, stroking it. “Cheyenne, it’s okay, it was just a dream.”

   I blinked, my eyes focusing in on the faces around me and my lower lip began to tremble. Lilly held my cheek, her blue eyes filled with tears. Hands that had me pinned down began to loosen. Koda and Brogan stood, unsure. Maes released my legs, his gaze ever watchful. Daniel and Colt knelt by my head, fearful.

   I turned away and rolled to my side. What had I done? What had happened?

   “Callon,” I whispered. I’d witnessed Callon’s death—a horrid death, and Marcus, he was there, he’d spoken to me.

   I couldn’t hide the terror in my eyes; they’d all seen it. But it was a dream; it wasn’t real…or was it? Was this a vision of what was to come?

   “Cheyenne?” Dex gently tugged on my arm to roll me over. “Cheyenne, let me take a look at you.”

I sat up and pushed him away. Callon, I needed Callon right now. I needed to know he was still alive, that what I’d seen wasn’t real. I needed to tell him I’d fix everything, I’d make it right in his eyes again…he just had to give me time.

   “Callon, I need to see Callon.” I pulled my legs to my chest and began to rock.

“He’s not here, Cheyenne,” Colt replied.

   I lifted my head and took in my surroundings. We weren’t in the forest anymore, we were in a small meadow and a large stone building lay ahead. The sun’s rays were peaking over the mountaintop that sat behind it.

   How long was I out, how many days did I lose? And how many days had Callon been gone?

   I rose only to stumble. Colt quickly caught my arm and I fought to push him away. He released me, but stayed nearby. I pushed past the group and made my way towards the abandoned building.

   My hand shook as I brushed blond wisps of hair back. I couldn’t handle the stares, the fear they expressed. I needed something concrete to focus on and this was the only other option. Colt didn’t speak. He and Daniel walked beside me, scared I’d break.

   The old stonework was beginning to crumble; the many large windows facing us were covered in years of dirt and decay. A large stone stairway led to two enormous steel doors. Several smaller outbuildings lay scattered about, and what looked like a corral and stables.

   I stopped at the small creek’s edge.

   Wherever here was, I was sure was going to be our new home.

   Maes stepped in front of me, but I kept my gaze on the water.

   “I need you to wait here, we need to clear it first,” Maes said.

   I didn’t reply as Maes and Brogan moved past. I’d stand here and wait like I’d been told. I didn’t need any more nightmares

   My eyes misted. It had all amounted to nothing in the end. The fact that I was Timeless, that after all the secrets that had been kept from me, that after all the time I’d spent in hiding, nothing had changed. I was still trapped in a destiny I couldn’t control, and the ones I loved the most were going to suffer for it.