Free The Reckoning by Teyla Branton Page A

much could go wrong, especially where the Emporium was concerned. “Cort could fly us instead.” Chris wouldn’t be happy if he learned I was trying to cut him out of the op, but I’d risk his wrath if it meant protecting him.
    “Much as I’d like to come along,” Cort said, “Chris is the better pilot.”
    I stifled irritation. You’d think someone who’d lived half a millennium could have concentrated a bit more on his flying lessons if he was going to take the time in the first place to learn.
    “We’ll be fine,” Jace said, his face confident. “We’ll make sure we won’t have to transport anything.” He winked and gratitude flooded me. I’ll always have him, I thought. And it would be a long time before we lost Chris and the kids to the disease of mortality.
    Ava slapped a hand on the table, interrupting my introspection. “Okay, everyone, meeting’s over. Pack your gear. Shut the door on your way out. Erin, Dimitri, and I have some business to attend to before the flight.”
    She meant the snake. I stifled a shudder. It was time to see what was happening inside that box.

“I’M GOING TO CHECK ON Jeane,” Cort said, a little too eagerly. No doubt excited to learn firsthand about nulls. I was glad he was unaware of my own little science project.
    Jace snorted. “Better make sure she hasn’t thrown herself at Marco. If she weren’t so drop-dead gorgeous, she’d be a big pain in the ass.”
    Cort laughed. “Oh, come on. She was only teasing you about running away to the Bahamas.”
    “Her hands were a little too familiar to be all tease,” Jace countered. “I know a come on when I see it. Not that I’m fooling myself it’s me she wants. I think she’s just a bit stir-crazy after being locked up for so long.” He turned to Mari and Stella. “Let’s get some grub while we talk about what gear to bring to Guayana City. I need to build up my strength with a double helping of Nina’s omelets.”
    Keene followed the others to the door, his eyes running between me and Ava, as if calculating what might be wrong. I didn’t know how I felt about working with him on this trip. Though I’d made my choice between him and Ritter, I still experienced a lot of discomfort in Keene’s presence. I shouldn’t because he’d never asked for anything I wasn’t willing to give. Unlike Ritter who wanted it all.
    Ava held Keene’s gaze and something seemed to pass between them that puzzled me. His gaze jerked away as he hurried from the room.
    Ritter had stood but made no move toward the door. “I’d like to stay,” he said quietly.
    Ava tilted her head, studying him for a long moment. “All right.”
    Standing, Ava came around the left side of the table to where I sat in the second seat. “Come closer, Ritter,” she said. “Something’s going on with Erin, and before she goes to Venezuela, we have to be sure it won’t jeopardize the mission.”
    Ritter showed no surprise. “I agree.”
    My gaze snapped to his, realizing that he’d felt my unusual drain in Austin. But was it his own ability that told him I was a weaker opponent, or was there some other connection growing between us? Because these days it seemed I could feel him more than ever.
    “We’re going to open the containment box in Erin’s mind,” Ava continued. “We want to see if there’s a notable difference in the construct Delia left inside her. There is a slight possibility that Delia can control Erin through it, so it’s probably a good thing you’re here. Your job is to make sure Erin doesn’t act on any commands Delia might have implanted. Dimitri will observe her on a healer’s level, while I observe from inside.”
    Nodding, Ritter stood behind my chair, his face immobile but his surface emotions glowing with concern. I didn’t believe he’d hurt me, but I hoped if something happened, he’d do what was necessary to keep everyone safe.
    I reached out to him, slipping past his barriers. It’s okay, I put into his