Shards of Hope (Psy-Changeling 14)

“My parents aren’t known for their kind hearts—and they survived in the outside world by sticking dogmatically to the tenets of Silence.” No softness, no deviations from Arrow protocol. “That’s not the life I want for my Arrows.”

Vasic’s black hair lifted in the warm desert breeze. “Yes, but it might be the life these Arrows need to live. In time, that may change—we just have to keep them with us long enough.”

Aden considered Vasic’s suggestion in silence, nodded slowly. “You’re right.” His parents might have any number of faults, but they also had a lifetime of experience that could help in this situation. They would know which tasks to assign to best keep the older Arrows stable, which mental exercises to teach. As important, the senior Arrows would listen because Marjorie and Naoshi had more than proven their mettle. “I wouldn’t trust them to train younger Arrows, but they’ve always believed that Arrows who’ve put in their time deserve to retire in peace—regardless of their physical or mental state.”

Aden couldn’t see either of his parents treating the senior Arrows with anything other than respect, but he hadn’t forgotten what Zaira had said of his father’s comments about locking up Alejandro. Naoshi had likely deemed that an acceptable action because Alejandro was young, hadn’t “earned” the care of the squad, but just in case—“One of us will have to keep a subtle eye on them, make sure they haven’t become unforgiving of flaws.”

“I’ll take care of that,” Vasic said. “But I’m certain it’ll work—Ivy met your parents during the time you were missing and she said while they came across as abrasive, she also sensed a deep commitment to their fellow Arrows.”

Aden was unsurprised. “I learned about loyalty from them.” Only where he gave it to each individual Arrow and Arrow trainee, Marjorie’s and Naoshi’s loyalty was to the squad as a whole.

It was a subtle but vitally important difference that would forever divide them.

Vasic spoke again into the desert quiet. “The appointment will also clarify your parents’ status in the squad now that we no longer have to maintain an external network.”

That was what Marjorie and Naoshi had done while officially “dead”—acted as base command for all the different Arrow bolt-holes around the world, many of which they’d helped establish. Once Aden and his people got an at-risk Arrow out, Marjorie and Naoshi were the ones who’d set the defector up with a new life and teach that Arrow how to integrate into the world. A significant percentage, wanting to remain active as Arrows, had ended up in Venice under Zaira’s command, but others had preferred or needed a quieter or more remote location.

The safe houses would stay in place and any Arrow who wanted to continue his or her life outside was welcome to do so, but the urgency and importance of the task was now over. Currently, Marjorie and Naoshi were at loose ends and struggling to understand the fact that Aden didn’t intend to hand over the reins of the squad to them.

That he would never do, but their long service deserved a position where their status was clear cut and respected. “I’ll talk to them.”

“Why haven’t you mentioned Zaira?” Vasic said without warning.

Aden looked at his friend’s profile, Vasic’s skin deep gold in the light of the setting sun. “Why should I?”

“Aden.” Winter gray eyes met his. “I was with you when you first met her, and I was with you when you hacked the security systems to send her an e-mail. I know she means more to you than you’ve ever consciously acknowledged.”

Aden thought of his and Zaira’s time together in the aerie, and before that, of their fight to survive. The memories were burned into his soul. “You’ve never said anything before.”

“I didn’t understand who she was to you then.” Reaching out to the little white dog who’d run along the top of the sand dune to sprawl huffing at his side, Vasic scratched his and Ivy’s pet between the ears. “It took my love for Ivy to open my eyes.”

A pause as they watched the last of the sun’s rays fade.

“She’s yours, Aden,” Vasic said in the falling dark. “Always has been, always will be. And I’m fairly certain she considers you hers. Did you ever notice that the two of us were hardly ever in the same room together before my marriage? Zaira saw me as competition for you.”

Aden thought of the feral fury with which Zaira had nearly attacked the RainFire woman, of the way the two of them had touched in the midnight hours, of the fact that she still wore his leather jacket, and gripped his wrist so hard he could feel his bones grinding into dust. “It’s not enough,” he managed to get out. “She believes her future lies in her past.”

“And I believed my future held nothing but death.”

Recovered from his exertions, Rabbit padded over to Aden and dropped a stick he’d brought from the orchard. Aden picked it up and threw into the distance. Barking excitedly, the dog flew down the dune after the stick. “I’ve tried to reason with her. I’ve tried emotion.”

Vasic propped his arm on one knee. “The only reason I lived long enough for Ivy to find me was that you were too stubborn to let me die. I don’t need your stubbornness anymore—Zaira does.”

Aden looked to his friend again as Rabbit began to run back with the stick. “I’ll simply wear her down?”

A slight curve of Vasic’s lips. “Some barriers need to be worn down.” Eyes flicking down, he used his Tk to help Rabbit climb the sand dune.