Free Seeker (Shadows) by Jolene Perry Page A

awful could happen. Would they?
    “Do you think it would take so few people to release the shadows?” I ask.
    “They’d need one of every talent,” he says. “But remember we’re all connected. I don’t think the shadows would just take their talents to free themselves. I think they’d take everyone’s. The group would simply act like the conduit.”
    My heart starts hammering because Ocean and I have the only talent they don’t have. And take everyone’s talents ? Because of that group we could all lose what we do. If the shadows are let loose after that, how would we even begin to fight them?
    Dad says to stay in touch and I think I mumble something in response, but I’m suddenly feeling very alone and very unsure.
    Ocean takes a step toward me and I jump not realizing until now that he was listening in, and instead of being upset with him like I normally would be, I’m just glad that I don’t have to relay the information again.
    “So. Now you and I have to figure out if we’re the hunters, or if we’re being hunted,” Ocean says as he tries to put off another one of his relaxed smiles, but ends up looking like Shrek instead.
    And he’s exactly right anyway. “Get me out of here. Let’s go wander. I’m with your plan—if you have one.”
    My fingers shake and my body’s shaking, but Ocean’s the only one here and I’m choosing to trust him because I might fall apart if I don’t have something to hold on to.
    “That’s my girl,” he whispers as he brushes past me, sending shivers down my spine, and leaving me wondering if he meant for me to hear. This time I don’t just load up with my taser, but with my small knife and plastic zip-ties to use as handcuffs as well. At this point, there’s no such thing as being too careful.

TEN  
    Dean
     
    A fter Landon’s announcement about being caught, Addie’s practically quivering under my arm as we leave the dock and start up the noisy street. There are as many mopeds and golf carts as cars, which I find amusing and a nice distraction. Addie pulls in closer, and I hate that she’s afraid, but love that she trusts me to help her feel better. Just touching her was hard at first because we’re both able to manipulate the other, and what I want transfers to what she wants, and we were worried our feelings weren’t our own—her more than me, because she feels amazing next to me no matter what. That girl could get me to do anything—gifted or not. Now that we trust each other, the way I want her transfers to the way she wants me and it all magnifies, making being around Addie amazing and very addictive.
    Her voice comes through as clearly as if she were speaking out loud. Being caught doesn’t seem like the best plan.  She tries to sort of laugh, but she’s not at all convincing, and I know she understands it’s the best idea we’ve got.
    What Landon hasn’t told either of them is that he has a connection here that he’s meeting up with. Some guy he found online who I think is probably pretty damn shady, but that it seems we might need if we’re going to learn anything new. He kept the girls out of it trying to protect them, but I think we might be the ones in need of protection when they figure out what’s going on, which they will do.
    What? Addie asks.
    Oh. Right. I always forget you can hear my brain’s ramblings. I give her another squeeze.
    Should I be worried about this guy?
    I have no idea.
    “I don’t want to be Daphne,” Addie leans further into me. “Because right now I definitely feel like we’re in a Scooby Doo movie.”
    I love that she’s obsessed with that show and take her in my arms, glad we’re so close to the same height. Her slim body slips against mine, and just like every time we’re this close, I sort of lose the edges of myself in her and the way she feels against me. I had no idea love was this intense, but I wouldn’t change it for anything.
    “Daphne’s hot, and she always gets rescued in the end.”