Free Fractured Truth by Rachel McClellan Page A

anything about how Jackson escaped or where he’s at, but we’re working on it.”
    I tightened my lips, wishing he knew more. “I hope we’ll know soon, but there’s another reason I’m here. I had a thought last night and wanted to go over it with you two, Liam, and the twins. Can we meet later today?”
    Dr. Han opened a black book. “I’m available at one.”
    I turned to Mrs. Crawford.
    “That’s good for me,” she said.
    “Have either of you seen Liam or the twins?” I asked.
    “I spoke with Aaron earlier today. They had a meeting with the Deific this morning, but were coming back around noon.”
    “And Liam?”
    “I’m not sure.”
    “I haven’t spoken to him either,” Dr. Han said. “Would you like me to call him?”
    “No, thanks. I can do that. Oh, and, um, I never got the chance to say sorry for storming from the Council’s meeting.”
    Mrs. Crawford laughed. “I’m surprised you made it as long as you did.”
    I glanced at Dr. Han. He was smiling too.
    “So you’re not disappointed?”
    “I admit I would’ve liked to see things go differently, but considering the circumstances, I think you conducted yourself very well.” He interlocked his fingers. “But know this, the Council truly cares. They want Sophie and the other Auran girls found and have done things you don’t know about to try to accomplish this.”
    “Really?”
    He nodded. “They tracked Cyrus’s expenses for the lastseveral years and just yesterday came across a warehouse he purchased about five years ago.”
    My heart skipped a beat. “Where?”
    “In Albion, less than an hour away.”
    “Then let’s go! Right now!”
    He raised his hand to silence me. “They’ve sent someone to watch it, but just for a few days. At least until we can tell what it’s being used for.”
    I shook my head. “I can’t believe it. This is the first huge break we’ve had and you’re not going to act on it?”
    “We will, but I won’t risk any more lives. Do you understand?” His voice was firm.
    I didn’t trust myself to say anything out loud.
    “It’s three days of surveillance, Llona. As soon as we get an idea of what possible dangers there may be, we’ll go in, but I want to make sure we do it with enough manpower.”
    I clenched my jaw and nodded, thinking of Liam. He’d want to go.
    “Come back to my office at one, and we’ll have that meeting of yours,” Dr. Han said.
    “Right. See you.” I walked to the door, but Mrs. Crawford stopped me.
    “Hey,” she said, and I turned around. “That thing you wanted from the Lycans. You’re going to get it.” She winked at me.
    I left Dr. Han’s office, hoping she was right. Because if she was, then she really was psychic, and we’d get Sophie back. I glanced at the clock. In one hour I was supposed to teach Auran Sparring with Kiera. Normally, if I had time to kill, I’d hang out with Liam.
    Liam.
    I pulled out my phone and looked at it again. Nothing. Liam’s fine , I told myself, but I sent him a message just in case. A moment later a text came back saying he was at the Deific. My chest seemed to lighten. He was okay. I replied that I wanted him to meet with the others and me at one. His answer surprised me. “I’ll try.”
    I leaned against the wall, my chest tightening again. But why? I dropped my head back and thought of Christian. I had to find him.
    The halls were quiet now. My sensitive hearing picked up the lecturing voices of Auran teachers behind closed doors. I decided to go running. My muscles felt stiff from being in bed for almost three days.
    Within ten minutes I was standing outside the school in my yoga pants and running shoes. It was a cool autumn morning. Most of the leaves had already turned all kinds of reds and oranges, half of them already fallen to the ground. Winter should’ve been here by now.
    I sprinted down the long lane leading away from Lucent Academy. Trees on each side of me blurred past. I slowed only when I passed Waverly