Raintree: Oracle (Raintree 4)

“Yes, you do.”

He was going to have to be blunt with her. Could he lie well enough to fool her? He tried. “I don’t want you here.”

Again she answered softly, “Yes, you do.”

He’d been so afraid of the Raintree coming in and taking his daughter, he’d missed the signs of betrayal under his nose. His own people. A Cloughban resident, someone he knew, had made his worst fear come true.

He didn’t think for a moment that Maisy was working alone. She wasn’t that smart, or that powerful.

If she took Cassidy’s abilities, she’d be more than powerful enough.

“I have to stop her, no matter what. I will sacrifice myself.” His voice was sharp when he added, “I will sacrifice you if I have to. If I think for even a moment that it will help to offer you up, I won’t hesitate. You’re Raintree, after all. A prophet, and more. If they would take you in exchange for Cassidy, I would hand you over without a second thought.”

Instead of running out the door as she should’ve, Echo walked toward him, took his hand and sat on the love seat. She drew him down beside her, and he let her. She was warm, soft, much calmer than he was.

It wasn’t her daughter in the hands of a traitor.

“Of course you would,” she said in an even voice. “I’d expect nothing less from a father who loves his child dearly.”

“I should look for Cassidy tonight, no matter what Bryna says.” He said the words, but he did not stand.

Echo’s response was clear and too damn calm. “You won’t find her.”

He looked at her, this small, pretty, deceptively powerful woman who had come into his life and blown it apart. Everything in his life had been just fine, before she’d shown up. Was she a part of this?

You know I’m not.

Her words were clear. In his head, a whisper no one else could hear. He responded in kind.

I should do something. Anything.

She’s fine. She’s unharmed and she is not afraid. Cassidy is strong, like you.

You can’t be sure.

I am.

With that the connection was broken. Echo leaned into him, placed her head on his shoulder.

Why couldn’t he establish a mental connection with Cassidy the way he had with Echo? He could if he...

Echo’s hand closed over his, drew it down from his throat and the stone there. He thought she would try to convince him that it wasn’t necessary that he undo all he’d done. He thought she’d plead with him not to go to that dark place.

Instead, she simply whispered, “Not yet.”

* * *

Echo had dozed on the love seat, curled against Ryder. She was almost positive he had not slept at all.

“Did you dream?” he asked as she came awake.

“Yes.”

“Did you dream of Cassidy?” His voice was so stoic it was almost dead, and that scared her.

“I did, but I saw nothing new.” Just another horrifying dream of snow and a sharp blade and Ryder becoming something dark. She could not make herself see anything beyond that point. Maybe because what had happened beyond that point had not yet been determined. She patted his hand, noting as she did that he continued to wear the leather wrist band. She glanced up. He wore the stone at his neck, as well. She didn’t really need to look. When they were gone she would know it. She’d see and feel it. “You should sleep.”

“No, I should not.” He turned his head and looked down at her. “Go. Go now. Take your rental car and drive to Shannon, and get on the next plane to the States.”