Free Aurora Rising by Alysia S Knight

comparative to the length of time and the amount of control. Something that is small but has to have precise control takes more effort or energy than chucking a piece of rock if it doesn’t matter where it goes.
    “You were a seeker before. When someone was lost, you’d pick up on them, go that direction then pick up again until you honed in on them because you couldn’t keep up a link the whole time.” Keyen stopped, reading the look on her face. “Obviously, bad example. When you locked on someone you remained with them.” It was not a question as he read it on her expression.
    “I … Yes. No one ever told me that wasn’t normally how it was done.”
    “I’ve never known a seeker who could sustain a link for an entire search.”
    Rori looked embarrassed. “I was only fifteen on the first search I helped with. They hadn’t been able to find her. When I sensed her, I was afraid I might not be able to locate her again, so I stayed with her. She was so scared.”
    He shook his head in amazement. “And no one realized. You must have quite a good recovery rate.”
    “One hundred percent on alive and conscious. Unconscious, I drop a little. Body recovery I’m not good at.”
    “There are no emotions for you to tap into,” Keyen acknowledged. “Okay, so this gives me a base to work with on helping you train. But for now, it’s time to eat and then I am to deliver you back to Areathea for the IPI.”
    “I’m not sure about that,” Rori said hesitantly.
    “There is nothing to be worried about. It’s painless and will in no way affect your talent. You’ll find it very easy to use and useful in emergency situations. Just think of it as your own personal information link that you can access at any time, but no one else can see. You can be trying to handle an emergency and pull up relevant information or ask another team member or the control center a question, and no one else will know you’re talking to someone.”
    “When do I get to meet the others on the team?” Rori stretched, looking at him.
    “In the morning. We’ve had a couple days down time, so they went to visit their families.”
    “Why didn’t you go?”
    “I don’t have a family,” he said it so plainly, and his face showed no emotion but the pain deep within him blasted her.
    “I’m sorry.” Rori felt the need to reach for him but held back, his body demeanor said he didn’t want her sympathy.
    “It was a long time ago.”
    His attempt to brush it away got to her. She laid a hand on his arm. “It doesn’t make me any less sorry.”
    “Are you reading me?” Anger flared in him.
    “No, I wouldn’t do that. I don’t need to. It has to be hard not to have anyone.”
    “I have the Guardians, all the people here. They are my family.”
    Rori knew what he said was true. Keyen had made the team and everyone around him his family. They were in him, a part of him. Still, she hurt for him and the loss he suffered.
    “Are you trying to comfort me now?” The demand in his voice wasn’t so sharp.
    “What? No!” Rori started to object then realized that was exactly what she was doing. A groan escaped her as she buried her face in her hands. “I wasn’t, I didn’t mean to. It just came out.”
    Keyen took her hands, drawing them away from her face. “It’s all right. It’s part of who you are.” The understanding was back in his voice.
    “I never have liked anger and hurt. Even as a child,” she tried to explain, needing him to understand.
    “You could sense the discord.”
    “Yes.”
    “And you naturally try to fix it.” Keyen brushed back a lock of her hair which had come free from its tie.
    “I really didn’t know.”
    “It’s all right, though I can see it might be tough trying to stay angry at you. Come on, we’d better get cleaned up.”
    Rori hated to have the time end. It felt good to sit and talk with him. She felt lighter inside since she’d gotten some of her concerns out. Still, there was much to think