Free Lightning Kissed by Lila Felix Page A

wordlessly.
After we were inside, he stuck his head out of the door and looked
around again. He hadn’t acted this way the other times I’d come
around. Something was definitely up.
    “I’ve been replaced,” he lamented, dragging
his right hand over his closely shaven head.
    I was less shocked than I thought I’d be. I
was digging into topics and records that were hardly ever dug from
their graves—that was the way the Synod liked it. Their word on
subjects like Eivan and Eidolon were the end of the story.
    Though the Synod, on the surface, encouraged
the Lucents to research their histories, researching and
questioning were two heads of a coin teetering on the edge of
defiance.
    “Did they say why?” Colby got his
attention.
    “They don’t have to. I already know why. You
must be Colby. It’s a pleasure to meet you, finally.”
    Colby shot me a knowing look.
    “Because of me,” I provided the answer he
refused to.
    “It doesn’t matter. I’ve spent the better
part of the last week scanning and getting most of the information
on Eivan and Sevella to digital form. Whoever comes in after me
tomorrow will certainly be—discouraging—to anyone who wants to look
at them in the future.”
    This was my fault. This was the reason I
wanted as few people involved as possible. This man, who had been a
Guardian for decades, was now homeless and jobless because of his
desire to help me. And all he did was show me some books.
    What repercussions would Colby have to
face?
    I’d allowed myself to get so caught up in
having her with me that I let it cloud the fact that it might ruin
her life. Maybe this whole issue with Collin would change her
mind.
    “Those sons of bitches. What will you do
now? How can we help you?”
    In juxtaposition to his general outward
appearance of strength, Collin held onto the back of the chair
beside him and looked truly perplexed.
    “Help me? No one helps me.”
    That sparked a dangerous rebellion in
Colby’s eyes. Her personal disdain for the Synod was mostly about
herself and because of the way Rebekah was now treated in their
shadow. But then again, Colby was defiant to anything and anyone
who tried to rule her—she had a real deep-rooted issue with
authority.
    “Yes, we will.”
    He met her stare with an equally resilient
one. “I can help myself, young lady. I was going to offer my
services to who I believe is the Eidolon.” He turned to address me,
“It would be my honor to help you on your quest for more answers
and information, Theodore.”

 
     

    THE SYNOD IS THE
GOVERNING BODY OVER THE LUCENTS.
     
    Already, I hated the behemoth—mostly because
he wasn’t letting me have my way. He offered to help Theo with his
quest like Theo was Link from Zelda.
    I should’ve taken pictures of Collin’s face
while he talked to Theo. He was in the presence of greatness, or so
his expression revealed.
    It was just Theo, for crying out loud.
    A miniscule bolt of fear meandered through
my veins as Theo agreed to let Collin go with him.
    Because he said me, not us.
    ‘Sure you can come with me.’
    Who in the hell does this skunk ape think he
is?
    “Don’t even think about cutting me out,” I
whispered, ashamed of the emotion it carried.
    “Hey,” Theo sidled up next to me, using a
soothing tone. “Have I ever cut you out?”
    He probably meant no harm by that statement.
He would never purposefully hurt me.
    But I read between the lines anyway.
    What he was really saying was that I had
constantly cut him out. And I had. I cut him out of my life time
and time again, only to summon him back when I needed him. But Theo
had always been stronger than me. He could take getting cut out and
drawn back in. I couldn’t. The minute I had felt my defenses being
penetrated, I cast him away.
    I needed to grow up.
    I looked into Theo’s deep gray eyes as he
waited for a response.
    “No,” I answered. This wasn’t the time or
the place to have my pesky feelings get in the way. I shuffled