Free Despairing Tides (Fate's Intent Book 12) by April Bowles Page A

longer beat, doesn’t mean we’ve lost all feeling. We’re not supposed to even be here because trying to change one’s fate is strictly forbidden but we couldn’t sit there anymore while you did nothing. It’s not set in stone yet. You can still save them before they join us but you have to want to.”
    My heart never raced so fast at this point and Cadence and Seth got right to their feet.
    “Then what are we waiting for?” Seth asked.
    Ryon smiled to his quick decision and appeared next to Ellie. “Then go. We’ll go ahead and try to hold back time.”
    I nodded as they disappeared and the rest of us started getting on our horses.
    “Seth. Cadence. One hold the middle and one hold the rear.” Adele commanded. “I’ll ride in front. We have to make this quick.”
    They both nodded and we approached the entrance of the cave behind Adele. She held up one hand and averted the wind around us while Cadence and Seth focused on the rain. I was ready to save them and we started heading east into the mountain pass.

 
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 15
     
     
    Lana
     
    I raced through the storm as fast as I could and came up on the path heading north quickly thanks to my determination. I followed it all the way to the end where I saw the cave Ruby told me about ahead and light coming from inside. I was happy in that moment to know they were here and I ran towards it. The horses were jumped to my presence and so was Darius and Dirk.
    “Lana?” Dirk sounded both confused but happy to see me.
    I shook off the water on me and went right for the fire. “I’m so glad I found you.” Dirk immediately took off his jacket and draped it over me so I could change back and not be completely naked.
    “What are you doing here?” Darius asked. “Is everything all right?”
    “It is now. Everyone else is worried about you.”
    “Worried about us?” Dirk wondered. “We’re fine.”
    “That’s not the talk. They’ve been worried about what would happen if you were alone out here.”
    “What would they have to be worried about?” Darius asked.
    I looked over at Dirk and didn’t know if I should mention it but Dirk nodded just so I didn’t have to. “It’s fine, Lana. We’ve worked it out.”
    I sighed in relief. I knew they must have if they were both unharmed but I had to be sure. I didn’t want a distance like that between them to last forever.
    “Oh, that.” Darius said. “Well, no more worries. Everything’s fine. Now, where is everyone else?”
    “They’re taking shelter just before the mountain pass but I couldn’t stay there. I had to come find you.”
    “They do know you left, right?”
    I smiled and tried to act innocent about it. “Well—Ruby knows.”
    Dirk sighed. “Lana! You didn’t tell them?!”
    “I know they wouldn’t have let me go. Besides, I couldn’t sit in there knowing that you’re out in this weather. I had to come and I feel better now because I know you’re not dead but I’m freezing.” Dirk put his arm around me and pulled me closer while I was shivering from the cold but he made it better. He always had a high body temperature because of his fire. “That’s better but I should probably go back and tell them you’re okay.”
    “I don’t think so.” Darius cut in. “You’re not going back out there.”
    “But I have too. Ruby will want to know you’re safe.”
    “Not in this weather.” Dirk said. “You’re already catching a cold from your last venture. I’m not letting you leave.”
    “All right but when she finds out that you’re okay, you’re the one that has to explain to her why she couldn’t know sooner so she can be mad at you.”
    Darius laughed. “Deal. As long as you’re staying.”
    I nodded. “The storm should be over by morning and they’ll catch up.”
    Dirk looked outside and sighed. “Over by morning? Then I’m going to sleep.”
    He simply laid back next to me and was out in the matter of minutes.
    There was a long period of