Free Orenda by Ruth Silver Page A

just as Bray did. Swallowing the last of her water, the mug slipped out of her hands and fell onto the floor. “Bray?”
    Bray’s eyelids grew heavy and the room began to spin. “I think we’ve been drugged.” He mumbled feeling his lips tingle. Was Eilith concerned they’d escape? He struggled to focus, collapsing onto the cot. He was out cold.
     

The Mission
     
    Chapter 5
     

    After dinner, Lil borrowed a change of clothes from Arianna before heading into the bedroom. She hated that she couldn't leave to find Bray tonight, but she was exhausted from spending most of the late afternoon and all of the evening training. Her arms and legs were sore, forcing her to wait one more day. She hoped Bray was still alive and that all of this training would help save him.
    Lil undressed. She regarded the pajamas Arianna had lent her, black and blue plaid flannel bottoms and a matching blue short-sleeved shirt. Lil didn't realize how much taller Arianna was until she wore Arianna's clothes. She was swimming in the pants and the drawstring barely helped. The t-shirt wasn't doing her any favors either. It didn't matter. She'd wear the outfit tonight, change tomorrow morning, and be on her way to rescue Bray before breakfast.
    There was a soft knock at the door. Lil slipped beneath the covers, uncomfortable in her new attire. “Come in.”
    Hudson stepped inside the bedroom. Lil sat up under the blankets as he walked over to her. “I took a look at your . . . ” He forgot the word and glanced up at Lil, hoping for a little help.
    “My phone?” She drew closer once she saw it in his palm. Hudson took a seat at the edge of the mattress, handing it back to her.
    “Yeah, that's right. Your phone,” he said. “We don't have anything like this here. I'm not familiar with the technology.”
    Lil nodded her head weakly. “It's fine.” She shoved the phone to the bedside table. “I guess it was a long shot, hoping it would work here. I'm not even positive Bray has his with him.”
    “Don't worry, Lil,” Hudson said resting a hand on her arm. “We'll find your friend. We'll find both of them.”
    Lil glanced down at his hand on her arm. A sea of warmth coursed through her body when he touched her, making her want to never pull away. Hudson caught her stare and pulled his hand back.
    “Can I ask you something?” Lil's voice sounded unsteady as she spoke. She cleared her throat as her eyes met his. Hudson waited for her to continue. “What's the deal with Rawlie?”
    “What do you mean? He's worried about Willow. He knows what Eilith is capable of—we all do.”
    Lil grimaced. That wasn't what she'd meant. “Yeah, I know that.” She emitted a soft sigh and ran her hand through her hair. “He's different.”
    “How so? Because he's not from your world or because he's Australian?”
    She smiled, laughing. “That's not it. There's something about him. He seems . . . ” She couldn't even voice what she was trying to say. It was frustrating.
    Hudson grinned, nudging Lil's shoulder. “Are you asking because you like him?”
    “God, no!” Lil's eyes widened in horror.
    “Oh right, you have a boyfriend. Bray.”
    “Bray isn't my boyfriend.” She glanced at Hudson, realizing him sitting on her bed was too intimate for her own liking, and motioned that it was time for him to get off her bed.
    Hudson smiled as he climbed backwards off the mattress. “Okay. I'll take that at my cue to go.” He stopped just before he left, turning back to her seriously. “Rawlie is in love with Willow, you know. I always assumed it was because he had protected her and Jamie for so long. When you live with someone for eight years, you tend to develop feelings for them.” He continued backing up as he found the door handle at his back. “I guess the words you can't find to describe him are because he's hurting. The one person Rawlie cares deeply about was taken. He lost everything in the Scourge and right now, it's happening all over