Invincible (The Aerling Series Book 3) Read online

  “No,” we all say at once.

  Cedrick hesitates, but steps back.

  I want to demand they answer my question, but suddenly, I’m afraid to actually hear their response. My hand tightens around Mason’s. He looks down at me briefly, but turns to his parents a moment later. “Mom, Dad,” he says in a much softer tone than before, “why are you so afraid of me being in a relationship with Olivia?”

  This time, his mother steps forward. She takes her son’s hand in hers, and I can’t help but notice she’s trembling. “Mason, we have nothing against Olivia, but you cannot be with her.”

  “But, you said Escorts stay here all the time. Why would Olivia be any different?”

  Her sad smile promises the answer isn’t going to be one we want to hear. I pull in closer to Mason and hold my breath.

  “If you were happy to be only friends with Olivia, then yes, you could be together here in this world and have a wonderful friendship. I suspect that is not what you want?” She pauses, taking in our expressions—which make it pretty clear that the “friend zone” is nowhere we want to be stuck. She nods slowly. “That is what I expected.”

  “Mason, having a physical relationship with a human has a high cost for our kind,” his father says. “We are not meant to mix blood. Doing so has tragic consequences.”

  My breath catches as a conversation we had only days ago ricochets around in my skull. Molly’s innocent words about a baby—a child’s mistake born from trying to explain wind spirits—inspired Mason and I to wonder what it would be like to have children of our own. My mind spins as theories race through my thoughts. What could possibly scare them so much? Would any children we might try to conceive be harmed? Would I? I can’t bear the thought of trying to bring new life into this world only to see them suffer.

  The way Mason’s whole body goes still makes me think the same thoughts are running through his head. His voice is soft when he finally speaks. “What will happen?” Neither of them seems keen on explaining, but Mason begs. “Please, we need to know. If Olivia will be hurt…”

  Shaking her head, his mother lays her hand on his arm. “Olivia will not be harmed, but you…” Her eyes glass over with tears and she looks away.

  Mason? I pull away from him instinctively, terrified of being the reason he is hurt, but Mason refuses to let me get far. He turns to his father, pleading for a better explanation.

  Reluctantly, his father’s lips part. “Physically, neither you nor Olivia would be harmed, nor any children that might come from your union, but you would be giving up everything that you are. We were created to live separate from the humans, to protect them at all costs. If you walk away from your destiny, your power, your ability to remain here in your true home with us, your future as an Aerling Warden will all be stripped from you. I know these might not mean as much to you right now as they do to us, but you will also lose Molly.”

  “What?” Mason demands.

  His mother finds her voice again and says, “Mason, if you pursue a relationship with Olivia and choose to remain with her, you won’t be able to come back here. When Molly turns eighteen and returns home, you will never see her again. If nothing else gives you pause, please at least consider what that would do to your sister.”

  The entire crowd is silent as her words fall away. The grove of trees we are standing in carries no sound, as if even the animals and birds have quieted in reverence of such a shocking admission. In any other instance, I would be taking in the slender, white trunks and silvery leaves, the velvety soft ferns filling the spaces between them, and the cushion of silver-tinged moss beneath my feet. It is wondrously beautiful, but all I can think about is how hard Molly cried when we left her with my family this morning. I think of how the only thing that would convince Mason to let me risk my life for his was his concern for his baby sister. I know Mason loves me, but she is his blood, the one piece of real family he has ever been allowed to hold and love. So much has been taken away from him. How could I possibly ask him to give her up for me?

  Mason’s body is slack against mine. His eyes close as reality sinks into his mind. He doesn’t even seem to notice when Cedrick steps forward again and puts his hand on his shoulder. “Mason, I know this is a lot to take in, but nothing needs to be decided right away. I don’t mean to minimize the seriousness of what you are facing in regards to Olivia, but we must deal with the bridge and defeating Tū first. Everything else has to be put aside for now. I’m sorry, but that is how it must be.”

  Nodding, Mason acknowledges that he heard Cedrick, but fails to really respond. I am shaken to the core by everything we’ve just learned, but I know Cedrick is right. Everything else has to wait. I have a million questions begging for answers, but one new, almost random question creeps up to the forefront, and I realize it needs an answer more than any other.

  “If Tū is on Earth hunting down Aerlings, where is Tāwhiri?”

  The hush that was already blanketing the crowd intensifies. Awed silence dampens even the smallest noise as all eyes focus behind me. I turn to follow their gazes and find myself face to face with the most stunning man I have ever seen. Power seeps out of his very pores, raw and frightening, but at the same time, full of warmth. He takes my hand gently in his and says, “I am right here, my dear girl.”

  Chapter 3

  All That Is Left

  (Olivia)

  His words don’t register right away, because the power blanketing me is so distracting. Summer breezes full of wildflower scents and popsicles drift lazily by me. Warmth wraps around me in the strangest sensation I have ever felt. It’s like a hug from my dad when I need it most, but full of laughter and fun, as well. It feels like…home.

  “You’re Tāwhiri?” I finally manage to ask.

  He smiles gently. “I am.”

  He’s still holding my hand, but it doesn’t strike me as odd. I turn to Mason, but he looks even more stunned than I feel. Looking up at Tāwhiri again, I find him still focused intently on me. I have more questions than I can even process, but only one comes spilling out. “Can you help us?”

  “That depends on which problem you are referring to,” he says, no hint of humor or mocking in his voice at all. “I can do nothing about the consequences of a relationship between yourself and Mason, but I can lead you in the right direction when it comes to finding the Mother.”

  “You can?” Mason asks. His voice breaking in startles me out of my fascination with the true Aerling god in front of me, but Tāwhiri turns calmly to face Mason. When Tāwhiri lets go of my hand, I feel the loss immediately.

  “Mason,” Tāwhiri says. The reverence in his voice is so profound I can practically feel it settling around my shoulders. “Do you remember me?”

  I’m certainly confused by his question, but Mason isn’t. The haunted expression that has been plastered on his face for the last several minutes melts away as he locks gazes with Tāwhiri for the first time. The corners of his lips turn up slowly and peace takes up residence in his eyes.

  “Yes,” Mason says, “I do.”

  “I thought you might,” Tāwhiri says, smiling. “What do you remember of our first meeting?”

  Mason’s eyebrows bunch together, as if remembering the details is difficult. “You… you gave me my name.” He looks up at Tāwhiri. The confusion in his eyes falls away a moment later. “It wasn’t my Caretakers who chose my name. It was you.”

  “Mason Fredrick Hardwin,” Tāwhiri says slowly. “Yes, I did choose that name for you. I whispered it to you seconds after your birth, before you were sent to live on Earth. Your tiny body absorbed the words, releasing them only once you were placed in the hands of your Caretakers. Each name was meant to guide you, and you have done well so far.

  “You have been a strength to those around you, as your first name promised, and you have grown in personal strength and fortitude into a young man I am proud to call one of my children. Your refusal to let others force you into a path, to make your own way, and guide oth
ers to their true purpose as well, names you as the leader I hoped you would become when I gave you your middle name.”

  Placing his hand on Mason’s shoulder, Tāwhiri says, “The only name you still must live up to is your last name. Hardwin. Do you know its meaning?”

  Frowning, Mason nods. “Brave friend.” He looks down, as if ashamed by something, but I haven’t a clue what could make him feel that way. I’m not sure what Tāwhiri is waiting to see, but by my account, Mason has more than lived up to his last name.

  “The time is coming where you must show your conviction to those you love,” Tāwhiri says. The words carry weight, and Mason’s shoulders square up under the burden.

  Apparently, Mason followed that conversation without any trouble. I’m pretty freaking lost, but Mason is ready to move on. “You said you could help us find the Mother?”

  Tāwhiri nods, but a moment later, his expression seems troubled. “I do not know her location, as we are no longer connected to the Earth as we once were, but I can help Olivia find her.”

  “Me?” I ask. “Why would I be able to find her?”

  For a long moment, Tāwhiri considers both Mason and me. A certain amount of tension builds in his shoulders. In response, the air around him becomes agitated, just like it did earlier when Mason got upset. My mind sticks on that thought, but only for a moment. Tāwhiri’s voice pulls my attention back to him a moment later.

  “Neither of you understand what you are, do you?”

  I look over at Mason, hoping he knows what he means, but am sadly disappointed. Mason stares at Tāwhiri in confusion. “Cedrick explained that I’m a Warden…and Olivia being my Escort, well, I guess I assumed that meant something important for her as well.” Mason shrugs helplessly. I feel like our quest for answers is only turning up more questions.

  Seeming suddenly sad, Tāwhiri says, “I was not referring to you being a Warden, although that is a very important role in our world, nor to Olivia being a Seeker.” He frowns and I have to bite back the whole horde of new questions he just dumped on my lap. A Seeker? Oblivious to my agitation, Tāwhiri continues. “Have you not noticed that the air here jumps to your aid at even the slightest provocation? Have you not felt this world welcoming you into its embrace? Have you not wondered why an army of Aerlings is not ready to join you on your quest? You are not just another Aerling, Mason, and you, Olivia, are not just another Escort. You were both chosen.”

  “By who?” I ask.

  At the same time, Mason demands, “For what?”

  Patient and kind, Tāwhiri says, “Chosen by me. Chosen for the purpose of saving this world and everyone in it.” He touches Mason’s shoulder lightly. “You have lost much of your early memories…” Mason startles at his words, no doubt wondering how he could possibly know that, but he keeps silent. “…but you remember receiving your name from me. If you ponder that moment, I think you will also remember receiving something else from me as well.”

  Mason’s face screws up in concentration, or maybe doubt and irritation. That’s certainly what I’m feeling right now.

  “Power,” Mason says slowly. “You gave me part of your power before I left. Part of who you are, your purpose, you gave it to me so I could save the Aerlings.”

  “Yes,” Tāwhiri says, “and you will need it before the end.”

  Mason’s mouth pops open, no doubt a dozen questions on his lips, but Tāwhiri has already turned his attention back to me. “You, dear Olivia, most likely do not remember our first interaction, but some part of you does. Tell me, what did you experience when we met today?”

  “I …” My eyes dart around nervously, knowing the real answer will sound silly and childish. I don’t know what else to say. My head drops as I mumble, “It felt like I was home.”

  Tāwhiri’s gentle fingers lift my chin until I am looking directly at him. “That is exactly what you should have felt, dear girl, because the moment I claimed you, this became your home. The human world was no longer for you. You were given a piece of my power as well, and it will forever pull you back to me, to your home.”

  Mason may have held back his questions, but I can’t. “That doesn’t make any sense,” I say. My firm tone makes several Aerlings around us cringe. Maybe it’s not polite to talk to a god like this, but I’m beyond caring at this point. I’ve been through too much in the last few weeks to play games. “You can’t leave the Aerling world. How can you claim to have met me and given me some of your power?”

  “Today is the first time we have met, Olivia.” When my mouth springs open again, Tāwhiri holds up a hand to quiet me. Firm, but gentle, I have no choice but to listen. “Earlier, when I said we no longer had contact with the human world, that does not mean we have no access at all. The wind spirit Mason had to create before coming home stayed on the human world. Each Aerling does the same. The spirits become our only access to the world we are bound to protect. We can interact in very limited ways, but I am more capable than most, because such a large part of my power was left behind.

  “After Mason was chosen and sent to Earth, I sent my wind spirit in search of someone suitable to protect him. I needed someone who was kind and understanding, yet brave and strong enough to withstand the terrible trials that would undoubtedly befall them.” Tāwhiri smiles down at me. “When my wind spirit stumbled upon you, I knew right away that I had found the right person. A portion of the wind spirit detached from me and was given to you as a marker, and as a blessing.”

  Still more than a little confused, I struggle to put together a coherent question. “Is that why you called me a Seeker?”

  Tāwhiri shakes his head, surprising me. “When a human child is marked as an Escort, it grants them the abilities they will need to protect their Aerling. The small amount of power used to mark them can either remain dormant until needed, or it can be cultivated into additional talents. Your compassion for others and natural desire to help those in need made your power blossom into that of a Seeker.”

  “What does that mean?” I ask.

  “It means, Mason is not the only person you will be able to find when called upon to do so.”

  Immediately, Hayden jumps to the forefront of my mind, but I swerve back to the original topic a fraction of a second later. “If being a Seeker isn’t what you were talking about earlier, what is it about me that has you so worked up? All that stuff with Mason, it sounds pretty awesome, and it’s not hard to believe, but what on earth do you need me for?”

  Rather than directly answering my question, Tāwhiri says, “It has been centuries since I stepped in and personally named an Aerling child and bound them with my power. I only do so when I feel we have a chance to destroy my brother and end this war.”

  He pauses, and suddenly I feel like I am the only person standing in the grove of trees with him. Every speck of his focus is squarely on me. One corner of his mouth turns up, though I have no idea what he’s feeling humorous about.

  “Olivia, when do you think the last time was that I personally found, marked, and bound an Escort with my power?”

  Shrugging, I stare up at him, frustrated and more than a little annoyed. “I have no idea. The last time you picked an Aerling?”

  His eyes crinkle. Certainly, that’s what he expected me to say. “My dear Olivia, I have never before chosen an Escort. You were the first.”

  “Why?”

  “Because we are out of time.”

  The crowd suddenly grows restless. I look around, spotting a whole host of confused faces, but even without understanding the full meaning, they are suddenly frightened. My own anxiety ratchets up a notch. Slowly, I turn back to Tāwhiri.

  “Olivia, Mason,” he says, “this will be our last attempt at defeating Tū. While he has grown more powerful, we have grown weaker, locked away from our full power as we are. Tū was given governance over Man and he has spent millennia corrupting them to his purposes and gaining power from them. He will soon be powerful enough to destroy the Mother and gain access to this w
orld. Once he does, we will not be strong enough to resist him.”

  Placing one hand on either of our shoulders, Tāwhiri’s eyes close for just a moment before opening again and looking upon us with determination. “The power I give you both now is not small. It is everything I have left. I have chosen you as my heirs.”

  Gasps of surprise and fear ring out all around us. Part of me begs to turn around and puzzle out their reaction, but neither Mason nor I can look away from Tāwhiri. Only Mason is able to find his voice enough to ask, “What does that mean?”

  “It means I have little time remaining. The fate of the Aerlings rests in your hands now.”

  His words are so final. I jump when he grabs Mason’s face between his hands and touches his forehead to Mason’s. Their powers seem to collide in that moment. The burst makes everyone step back, including me. I don’t realize until Tāwhiri pulls away that their powers weren’t bashing into each other. Tāwhiri’s power was abandoning him. I’m so shocked by the display, I nearly cry out when Tāwhiri is suddenly right in front of me. Flinching when his hands cup my face gently, I try desperately not to be afraid. He must see it in my eyes, because he smiles, and that sense of home returns to calm my fears.

  He was almost rough with Mason, but with me, his grip and tone of voice are soft, “Take care of my children,” he says before pressing his lips to my forehead like my dad does when I am scared and upset. There is no burst this time, just the soothing embrace of a loving father’s power. I feel it sink into my core, mixing with the power I already carry, changing me in a way I don’t understand even a little. I open my eyes, hoping for answers, but when I look up, all that is left of Tāwhiri is a summer-scented breeze as it drifts across my skin.

  Chapter 4

  Hang On

  (Mason)