Unspoken (The Lynburn Legacy 1)

Jared was lonely. She’d known that all her life, that she was the only important thing to him. “I have no interest in power of any sort,” Kami snapped.

“Of course,” said Rob Lynburn soothingly.

He ticked Kami off. She didn’t want to hear him telling her how mature she was, praising her because he thought it would make her behave the way he wanted. Only he’d called Jared “my boy” twice now, and he seemed to mean it. He was infuriating, but he might want the best for Jared. So did she.

“I believe you care about Jared,” Kami said.

“I do,” said Rob. “Show me that you do.”

“I told Jared it was something I might want to consider,” she continued slowly, trying to be reasonable for Jared’s sake. “He didn’t want to hear it.”

Rob looked at her, and a breath of cold air snaked in even over the collar of her thick robe. He looked like a scary sorcerer for that one moment in time, able to command wind and shadows.

“But it’s not up to him,” he said. “It’s up to you.”

“It’s part of why sorcerers don’t like having sources,” Kami explained to Angela and Holly that afternoon. “Apparently sources can say, ‘Sorry, buddy, you’re cut off’ anytime, but once linked, the sorcerer can never get away.”

“I say you do it,” said Angela, her voice echoing in the hall.

Kami and Holly both looked around to see if anyone had overheard, but people were just making their way to class, oblivious.

“Oh no, she couldn’t do that!” Holly said, shocked. “It would be such a betrayal.”

That was what Kami had said to Rob. He had not agreed: he had seemed sure that this would save Jared from worse betrayal later on, when Kami got used to having power over the world and power over Jared. He’d been angry when she refused.

“Holly’s right,” Kami said. “Besides, Jared was right too. It isn’t safe to break the connection right now, not when it might save one of us. It already saved me once.”

“There’s this wonderful new invention,” Angela said. “It’s a device that you can carry in your purse, or even in your pocket, and using it you can communicate with people from a distance and let them know if you feel unsafe. Not just people: I believe you can also contact the constabulary! I hear it’s quite simple to use.”

Holly, who was standing close to Angela, elbowed her in the side. Kami gave her a grateful nod.

“Fine,” Angela said ungraciously. “But if you’re not going to do it now, you have to do it sometime. Tell him you’re doing it, soften the blow, and pick the time or whatever you have to do, but you can’t live like this, Kami. Not forever.”

“She can decide this for herself,” said Holly, and looped her arm through Angela’s. “Besides which, while you’re standing around laying down the law, we’re going to be late for Political Science.”

“You people make me tired,” said Angela. “I mean that quite literally. I want a nap. Well, I guess that’s what Political Science is for.”

“Don’t drool on our notes,” said Holly, and dragged Angela off.

They were laughing as they went. Kami felt a slight, unworthy pang of jealousy. Angela was her best friend and not Holly’s. Angela had always made her preference for Kami’s company quite clear by openly disliking everyone else’s; if Angela liked someone else, Kami could not help but worry about being replaced. It wasn’t like she could read Angela’s mind and be certain she still had the best-friend spot.

Kami shook her head at herself and made her way upstairs to the

headquarters.

Holly and Angela had not mentioned one important reason for Kami not to break the link.

Without it, what would I be to you? Just some ordinary girl.

A connection like this would make anyone feel close to anyone.

Even if she could read someone’s mind, she could apparently still be scared of losing them.

Kami was in no mood to enter her headquarters, her sanctuary, and find Ash sitting at her desk. He looked up from a map of Sorry-in-the-Vale, on which Kami had marked the houses with the families who had been in town longest according to Holly’s mother.

“What are you doing?” Kami asked sharply.

“Waiting for you,” Ash said.