Awakening: A Timeless Series Novel, Book Four by Lisa Wiedmeier Page B

skies, it cast an eerie appearance.
    Colt stood beside me, and we both admired the beauty before us. He was always thoughtful this way, showing me the beauty of nature, and revealing his inner beauty as well. For all his shortcomings, his heart was always in the right place. He’d always promised to be there for me, to protect me, but now he couldn’t. We no longer traveled down the same path.
    “Clayton and Skylar are leaving tomorrow,” Colt said, “but I won’t be going with them.”
    I continued to stare out at the waterfall.
    “To search for Callon?” I replied, a small amount of hope rising in my heart.
    “Yes.”
    “But you’re not going?” I looked up, having a good idea why.
    “No.”
    “Why not?”
    “Because I need to stay with you. You’ve been avoiding me and Daniel for the last few days. Something’s going on that you don’t want me to know about.”
    I shouldn’t have been surprised that he could still read me like a book. “Not yet, ” I replied.
    “But you will tell me?”
    I knew I couldn’t answer him truthfully, so I didn’t reply.
    We both stood silently until I made the mistake of looking up. Such sadness lay beneath the surface, such regret, and remorse. We both been guilty of hurting each other, both had made mistakes that could never be undone. Both had aided in pushing Callon away. I looked down.
    There was a reason he’d brought me here besides telling me of his search for Callon. He wanted me to remember him, his love, the love we shared, even if for this brief moment. He wanted me to remember that he’d always be my light, and that I could always count on him.
    Colt ran his fingers through his blond hair, brushing it away from his eyes. He crossed his arms and cleared his throat.
    “I’m sorry, Cheyenne,” he said. “I’m to blame for a lot of things.” He paused and stared at the ground. “Callon warned me, begged me to stop. He told me I was interfering in something that was way beyond my knowledge, and I ignored him. I thought that if my love was strong enough, well, it would break all the barriers…but instead I caused more chaos than peace.”
    He turned and took hold of my hands.
    “The worst failure yet was acting as a spy for Marcus. What I put you through, what I’ve put this family through is unforgiveable. You married the wrong man because of me.”
    “No, Colt…” I protested.
    “Let me finish. I know I’m your light, but Callon, he’s your pillar that provides stability. I should’ve seen that, shouldn’t have pushed to get my way. But I promise you here and now that I won’t give up searching for him. He allowed his emotions to get the better of him, but if I can talk with him I’m sure I can bring him back.”
    “Then go and search for him with Clayton and Skylar.”
    He shook his head.
    “I can’t leave you. They’ll find him and then I’ll go to him. ”
    I didn’t reply, and Colt d rew me into a hug. He was right: Colt may have been my light, but Callon, he was my stability, my anchor. But he’d left me when I’d needed him most, without letting me explain. He had allowed his emotions to control, but I couldn’t blame him. I’d allowed my emotions to control me when I thought he’d kissed Nakari, and marrying Marcus was ten times worse.
    My palms began to tingle on Colt’s chest, and I pushed him back pulsing a small amount of power. Colt stumbled back, confused.
    I shook my head, unsure what was going on. “Stay back,” I warned.
    He stepped closer, his hand outstretched. “It’s okay. It’s going to be okay. I was just hugging you, nothing more.”
    My hands began to tingle again, a blue hue growing in the palms , and I stretched them out, unsure what was going on.
    “ Chey…” Colt said warily.
    Suddenly a burst of light shot from my palms, aimed at Colt. A strangled cry left my lips as Colt jumped out of the way. The sound of a tree cracking in the distance told me the burst had made contact.
    I stared at him