Free Discovery: Altera Realm Trilogy by Jennifer Collins Page B

after everything they had been through.
    "Are we there yet?" Syney asked, an edge creeping into her voice.
    Cass looked at her, not really knowing what to say. If she had been in Syney's position, she might have all sorts of trust issues as well, but the attitude Syney was giving off was just uncalled for.
You have no idea how important you are
, Cass thought.
Caution must be taken
. She sighed and sucked up all of the sarcasm and annoyance she wanted to explode with. "Sort of," she said. "This is the portal to Altera Realm."
    "Through a rock face?" Syney asked, looking at it warily. "How were we going to go through it without my noticing that I was passing through solid rock?"
    "Make sure you close your eyes," Raine said, as he walked past both girls with some of Syney's luggage.
    "Oh, right," Syney said, shaking her head and walking back to the car.
    Cass gritted her teeth. There was only so much she would take from a dumb girl who didn't understand anything.
    "Calm down," Raine said, walking up to her.
    "I'm trying. She's just...trying my patience. I mean, do we really have to put up with her sarcastic comments for the rest of the trip?" Cass vented.
    "It's a few more miles once we're through the portal, and then she'll be in the hands of your mother and the royal court." Raine pulled Cass closer to the portal, away from Syney and the car. "Just take some deep breaths."
    "Ready?" Hunter asked, walking up to them with the rest of Syney's things.
    Raine nodded. "We should start to head over. It'll be dark soon."
    Hunter nodded in return and looked back toward his charge.
    Cass followed his gaze and saw Syney sitting behind the steering wheel, her cell phone to her ear. Suddenly the color drained out of Syney's face, and she turned to the rest of them. An anxious feeing pulsed inside Cass's chest. She had felt this way once before, when she was a child. Her cousin, Max, had been in her chamber. They were playing dress-up with some of her mother's old clothes and heels when his mother had barged in and seen them. Max slipped out of the dress he had on and ran out of the room at full speed, ashamed to have been caught all dressed up. Cass had assumed it was part of her gift to feel strong emotions from people, but it only had happened that one time...until now. She felt Syney's panic. Something was wrong.
    "No," Cass whispered.
    Syney looked away from them, slammed the door closed, and started the ignition before hitting the SUV into gear, escaping in their vehicle.
    "Raine, what the hell?" Cass yelled, looking up at her Protector. "Could you hear her on the phone?"
    Raine shook his head. "She was too far away. But I'm assuming she's going home."
    "We have to follow her. Can we get another car?"
    "Don't worry about it. I'm going to get you through the portal and home safe. Let Hunter get her. There are too many dangers around here to risk your life as well."
    Cass looked to her side, where Hunter had been just a moment ago. Now there was just a pile of ripped clothes. He had been quick—really quick.
    "Do you think he'll get to her?"
    Raine let out a small laugh. "He would do anything for her. I promise."
    Cass sighed and looked back to the portal. She wasn't very comfortable with the idea of leaving the Chosen One in this Realm by herself. No matter how annoying she was, she was still their only hope.

Syney

    She was almost to her house. The drive hadn't taken her very long. Her house and the portal weren't that far away from each other when you didn't have an animal attack in the middle. She put her foot to the gas pedal a little harder. She needed to get home. Something was going to happen; she felt it even before Scorpina had called her at the portal.
    "You have to come home quick! There are wild animals here, and Jess—oh, god—Jess is hurt. I think they might be after your parents!" she had exclaimed over the phone. Then the call had disconnected.
    Syney felt bad about leaving Cass, Raine, and Hunter the way she did,