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I spun back toward the door； my eyes darting through the shadows。
I had to go warn Doc。 We had to get out of here if we were the last two。
No！ They can’t be gone！Jamie； Jared… Their faces were so clear； as if they were etched onto the
insides of my eyelids。
And Ian’s face； as I added my own pictures to hers。 Jeb； Trudy； Lily； Heath； Geoffrey。We’ll get them
back； I vowed。We’ll hunt them down one by one and steal them back！ I won’t letthem take my
family！
If I’d had any doubts where I stood； this moment would have erased them。 I’d never felt so fierce in all
my lives。 My teeth clenched tight； snapping together audibly。
And then the noise； the babble of voices I’d been so anxiously straining to hear； echoed down the hall to
us and made my breath catch。 I slid silently to the wall and pressed myself into the shadow there；
listening。
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter； processtext/abclit。html
。
Sounds like a large group。
Yes。 But yours or mine？
Ours or theirs；she corrected。
I crept down the hall； keeping to the darkest shadows。 We could hear the voices more clearly now； and
some of them were familiar。 Did that mean anything？ How long would it take trained Seekers to perform
an insertion？
And then； as I reached the very mouth of the great cave； the sounds became even clearer； and relief
washed through me—because the babble of voices was just the same as it had been my very first day
here。 Murderously angry。
They had to be human voices。
Kyle must be back。
Relief warred with pain as I hurried into the bright sunlight to see what was going on。 Relief because my
humans were safe。 And pain because if Kyle was already safely back； then…
You’re still needed； Wanda。 So much more than I am。
I’m sure I could find excuses forever； Mel。 There will always be some reason。
Then stay。
With you as my prisoner？
We stopped arguing as we assessed the motion in the cavern。
Kylewas back—the easiest one to spot； the tallest in the crowd； the only one facing me。 He was pinned
against the far wall by the mob。 Though he was the cause of the angry noise； he was not the source of it。
His face was conciliatory； pleading。 He held his arms out to the sides； palms back； as if there was
something behind him he was trying to protect。
“Just calm down； okay？” His deep voice carried over the cacophony。 “Back off； Jared； you’re scaring
her！”
A flash of black hair behind his elbow—an unfamiliar face； with wide； terrified black eyes； peeked
around at the crowd。
Jared was closest to Kyle。 I could see that the back of his neck was bright red。 Jamie clung to one of his
arms； holding him back。 Ian was on his other side； his arms crossed in front of him； the muscles in his
shoulders tight with strain。 Behind them； every other human but Doc and Jeb was massed in an angry
throng。 They surged behind Jared and Ian； asking loud； angry questions。
“What were you thinking？”
“Why’d you e back at all？”
Jeb was in the back corner； just watching。
Sharon’s brilliant hair caught my eye。 I was surprised to see her； with Maggie； right in the center of the
crowd。 They’d both been so little a part of life here ever since Doc and I had healed Jamie。 Never in the
middle of things。
It’s the fight；Mel guessed。They weren’t fortable with happiness； but they’re at home with
fury。
I thought she was probably right。 How… disturbing。
I heard a shrill voice throwing out some of the angry questions and realized that Lacey was part of the
crowd； too。
“Wanda？” Kyle’s voice carried across the noise again； and I looked up to see his deep blue eyes locked
on me。 “Thereyou are！ Could youplease e and give me a little help here？”
CHAPTER 55
Attached
Jeb cleared a path for me； pushing people aside with his rifle as though they were sheep and the gun a
shepherd’s staff。
“That’s enough；” he growled at those who plained。 “You’ll get a chance to dress ’im down later。
We all will。 Let’s get this sorted out first； okay？ Let me through。”
From the corner of my eye； I saw Sharon and Maggie fall to the back of the crowd； melting away from
the reinstatement of reason。 Away from my involvement； really； more than anything else。 Both with jaws
locked； they continued to glare at Kyle。
Jared and Ian were the last two Jeb shoved aside。 I brushed both of their arms as I passed； hoping to
help calm them。
“Okay； Kyle；” Jeb said； smacking the barrel of the gun against his palm。 “Don’t try to excuse yourself；
’cause there ain’t no excuse。 I’m plain torn between kickin’ ya out and shootin’ ya now。”
The little face； pale under the deep tan of her skin； peeped around Kyle’s elbow again with a swish of
long； curly black hair。 The girl’s mouth was hanging open in horror； her dark eyes frantic。 I thought I
could see a faint sheen to those eyes； a hint of silver behind the black。
“But right now； let’s calm everybody down。” Jeb turned around； gun held low across his body； and
suddenly it was as if he were guarding Kyle and the little face behind him。 He glared at the mob。 “Kyle’s
got a guest； and you’re scarin’ the snot out of her； people。 I think you can all dig up some better manners
than that。 Now； all of you clear out and get to work on something useful。 My cantaloupes are dying。
Somebody do something about that； hear？”
It just wasn’t as shocking as it used to be。
Many went back toward their interrupted lunch； others returned to the irrigation barrel； others to their
rooms。 Soon only Jared； Ian； and Jamie were left beside me。 Jeb looked at these three with a cross
expression； his mouth opened； but before he could order them away again； Ian took my hand； and then
Jamie grabbed the other。 I felt another hand on my wrist； just above Jamie’s。 Jared。
Jeb rolled his eyes at the way they’d tethered themselves to me to avoid expulsion； and then turned his
back on us。
“Thanks； Jeb；” Kyle said。
“Shut the hell up； Kyle。 Just keep your fat mouthshut。 I’m dead serious about shooting you； you
worthless maggo