Free Relentless by Suzanne Cox Page A

one thing that might make them hesitate, might make them question his ability to be loyal. When he was only a baby, his mother had left him and his dad to join the Fenryrians. He and his dad seldom spoke of it. But Myles had told me that his dad had been removed from the Lycernian council and would never be allowed on it again because of her betrayal. Maybe the Einherjar weren’t certain Myles could be trusted, which was pretty crazy since Myles had never even seen his mother after she’d left them. He had told me that this past summer.
    “What time are we leaving tomorrow?” I changed the subject as we neared the door.
    “Ten in the morning. We have a boat at our dock in the bay. It’s the fourth pier to the right of the main path.”
    I nodded as we went inside, and Myles headed for the elevator while I plopped into a chair next to Lana.
    She glanced back toward the elevator. “You and Myles have an argument outside?”
    I frowned at her. “No, no argument. I ran into him when we were both coming inside.”
    She nodded and turned her attention back to the television.
    Leaning across the arm of my chair, I lowered my voice. “Is he acting kind of different to you lately? I know I only met him this past summer, but he seems different—like something’s going on that’s bothering him.”
    Lana nodded. “He is acting a little strange, but I think it’s just the pressure of trying to join the Einherjar and knowing that he’ll likely be going off to college soon, too.”
    “Will you go to college with him?”
    She shook her head. “I’ve done all my college work already, and I travel a lot doing lab research and drug development.”
    “That’s weird.”
    “What?”
    “Well, you seem so normal. You’d think somebody as smart as you wouldn’t be…well, like I said, normal.”
    She laughed and stood up. “I’m going to bed now. You still going to Key West tomorrow?”
    “I am.”
    “All right.” She took a few steps then turned back to me. “Be careful tomorrow. Always use good judgment. It’s easy to get confused about things when your heart is involved.”
    I watched her walk away. Lana couldn’t possibly know I’d been in contact with Eric. But if she didn’t know, why would she say that? I shook my head. Tomorrow I’d have to come up with a really good plan to ditch everyone if I was going to meet up with Eric. I didn’t have time to worry about Lana’s cryptic message.

Chapter Six
    I tapped my foot anxiously on the tiled floor of the lobby. It was a nine-thirty, and I was the first one here. Two girls I didn’t know sat on the sofa in front of the television. I could have politely introduced myself and sat with them while I waited, but I didn’t. My mind was spinning with all the things that could go wrong today. And with the one thing I needed to go right.
    The elevator whirred, and Myles stepped out. He seemed to pause when he saw me.
    “You’re here early.”
    “It’s nine-thirty.”
    “And we’re supposed to meet at the dock at ten.”
    “Oh, well, I…” I struggled for a decent reason to be up and out so early. “I went out to find that bracelet I lost.”
    He gave me a doubtful look. I didn’t tell him that I just couldn’t sit in my room anymore or I’d scream. I waved my arm with a bracelet on it in the air. Lucky for me, I’d grabbed it at the last minute before I’d left my room.
    “You can come with me. I’m going by the lab to see Lana before we leave.”
    He was walking as he spoke, and I hurried behind him.
    “That’s right. I’d forgotten she had to work in the lab today.”
    “Robert came in with some specimens last night.”
    “Who’s Robert?”
    “Robert Garrett. He works with Lana in the lab. He’s not a student, just does the lab full-time.”
    I nodded but knew he didn’t see me because I was two steps behind him. Overhead, the sun was already hot on my skin. Back home in Chicago, September would have brought the early chill of fall, but not