Starborn Legacy (A Starborn Series prequel)

Chapter twenty

When Connor first said they could watch the connection ritual in secret, Audrey couldn't decide if he was brave or stupid. Even after being explicitly told to stay away, the idea of not going didn't seem like an option. She followed him, one part amused and another part concerned, as he crept through the maze of tents that made up the druids' encampment. In the back of her mind, Audrey wondered if she should try talking him out of it — if she should at least insist that they find a safer spot than the place he chose, peering around one of the tents closest to the ceremonial gathering. But Audrey had never been good at putting caution before curiosity, so whether Connor had a death wish or was just overly confident, she chose to trust him.

And so, because Connor had insisted on getting as close to the action as possible, Audrey received Welkin's message loud and clear: something was very, very wrong.

"What was that?" Connor hissed into her ear, knowing that the startled pandemonium of the crowd would drown out anything they said now. "Who was that?"

Audrey wrapped her arms around herself to steady the tremble that rattled her bones. Mind racing, palms clammy, she struggled to find her voice through the shock. "It was Welkin," she said finally. Even though they spoke in Rue's voice, and even though they sounded frightened in a way Audrey wasn't used to, she knew it was them. "Shit. Shit, shit, shit."

She tried to get to her feet but Connor pulled her back to the ground. With one hand gripped tightly around her forearm, Connor used his other to point at the ceremonial circle. Audrey looked back and watched as Connor's uncle Lance shoved his way through the chattering crowd to where Rue and her father stood speaking to a teenage girl who wore a braid in her hair and worry on her face.

"Quiet, everyone! Silence!" Lance shouted above the noise. Both druids and cultists alike hushed in unison and turned their wide and expectant gazes to him. His apparent hold over these people made Audrey's skin crawl. Behind her, Connor shrank back further into the shadows as his uncle swept up to Rue and her father. "Friends, what happened?"

Rue's father placed his hands protectively atop his daughter's shoulders. "It seems an unknown Star decided to cut in on our conversation."

Lance narrowed his eyes at Rue. "But why? Who is Audrey and Emandi?"

"I don't know, I swear," Rue replied. Her voice quivered as she pleaded her innocence.

"Maybe there was some kind of mix-up," the girl with the braid offered. "Maybe that message was meant for someone else and the Star spoke through the wrong host?"

"The Stars do not make mistakes," Lance snapped indignantly. As the girl flinched away from him, Audrey felt Connor stiffen beside her. Suddenly, the disgusted expression on Lance's face changed. His jaw slackened and his eyes grew round. He turned in place, his steely glare sweeping over the faces in the crowd. Connor pulled Audrey back so that they were completely hidden by the tent. Without a line of sight, they could only listen to what came next.

"Is this everyone?" Lance demanded. There was a manic edge to his voice that made Audrey uneasy.

"Of course," answered Rue's father. "We're all here. Why?"

"So there is no girl among you about my daughter's age? Long brown hair, tan skin, with eyes of Starborn gold?"

Audrey's stomach dropped. He was talking about her. Horrified, she met Connor's eyes, which mirrored her fear back at her. Silently, he mouthed the words we need to go.

"Not in our community, no." There was a wariness to the druid leader's voice now. "Who is this girl?"

Moving as carefully as possible, Audrey and Connor got to their feet. Audrey took Connor's hand, and they clung to each other as if their lives depended on not letting go.