Free The Coalition Episodes 1-4 by Aria J. Wolfe Page A

and the occasional drip from a faucet somewhere. She longed to keep the conversation light, steer clear of any mention of Sileas.
    "Why did Aliah's mother leave? I know it was a long time ago but I've often wondered."
    Eliana smiled and nodded. "She didn't leave. She was exiled. You would've been too young to remember." She shrugged her slender shoulders. "She was too passionate. Disturbed the peace by asking too many questions."
    Shai swished the water around with her hands, letting little sprays of water shoot over the sides of the tub. She leaned back and closed her eyes.
    "Then I must be dangerous too, Eliana. Because I don't agree with the Leader's methods. I hate his Laws, I hate the pendants. But I never would have taken those children." A few moments passed before Shai opened her eyes. Eliana was seated on a chair a few feet away looking at her.
    "Normally I wouldn't allow you to talk that way about our leader. But under these circumstances I understand. I even shouldn't tell you I agree. But you do cause trouble in your own way, Shai. Your hatred for the Watchers is well-known. And even though you've never been caught in an infraction it was only a matter of time. Be careful when you go with Elchai, okay? Every infraction starts here." She tapped her head. "Once you start thinking a certain way it eventually comes out in your behavior." Eliana leaned forward in her chair. "You need to be able to show that you have a healthy amount of respect for our Leader from now on. And stay away from Aliah. Everyone knows he hasn't been staying at the Boy's House for quite a while and that he takes off into the woods to who-knows-where. I know how inseparable you two are, but it won't help you to be seen with him. Not now."
    Shai sighed. "I know. I just can't bring myself to say good-bye to him." She sank deeper into the water.
    Eliana stared into the swirling fog with a vacant expression and twisted a slender, silver tube-shaped pendant that hung from a chain around her neck. After a while she turned back to Shai.
    "Strong feelings often lead people to make unwise choices. It's better not to encourage that kind of passion." Her voice was soft. She stood up to grab the bar of soap. "Elchai is a wise Leader." She patted Shai's head like she was a small child. "Wash up. I'll leave you to it."
    She passed the soap to Shai and with a small smile she turned and retreated into the mist. The sound of the door closing echoed through the large room.
    Shai furrowed her brow. Even Eliana accepted the way things were. But it was out of fear. Sileas dared to desire something more than what was deemed an acceptable life in Lael and she had paid the price for it.
    Fear was a terrible master, but it was all anyone had ever known. And in spite of the warning in her gut, the more Shai tried not to feel anything deep for Aliah the more she felt it.
    She held her breath and slid beneath the water. Her hair escaped its pin and floated around her face as she stared up from the water into the mist and rafters above. Her fingers found their way to the skin above her breast. She traced the bumpy contour of her birthmark then closed her eyes as its familiar heat spread through her body.
    She thought about last night. Remiel. She finally knew his name. When he had spoken to her in the rain it frightened her. And after a deep sleep void of dreams she had opened her eyes and there was he was again, standing in a pale beam of sunlight in the living room like he'd been there all along. The strength and power that emanated from him pulsed into her and every fear had vanished.
    He had held out his hand to her and spoken gently. "I'm here. I will always be here." She had longed to take his hand but her limbs felt heavy. Instead she asked him what she'd always wanted to know.
    "Tell me your name." She could feel his smile caress her and he simply said, "Remiel," then he was gone again. When she had repeated his name she found herself awake and looking up at