“We’re clear,” I said at last.
Roland merged onto the highway. “How do you know?”
I swallowed past the small lump in my throat. “I just do. I’ll explain it later.”
“How the hell did they find us so fast?” Peter asked.
Jordan harrumphed. “My guess is they tracked the cell phones you were supposed to ditch in Boise. There’s no way they could have guessed we’d come to Salt Lake City.”
“But how’d they know we were at that motel?” Peter wondered out loud.
“I don’t think they did. They were probably driving around checking out motels.” And seeing if he could sense me nearby. It had almost worked. Another twenty minutes and I would have been asleep in my hotel room, unaware he was anywhere close by until he showed up at the door. Something told me he wouldn’t have knocked either.
It was just past four in the morning when Roland pulled into a roadside motel and declared that we weren’t driving any farther tonight. I had no idea where we were, and I didn’t care as long as there was a bed. I paid for a room with two beds at the front desk, and the four of us said good night. I didn’t even bother to undress. I fell on top of the covers and was out within minutes.
* * *
I leaned against the car, sipping the hot coffee Roland had brought back for me along with breakfast. The morning air was cold, but I was enjoying my first real view of Utah too much to sit inside the hotel room with the others. We were in a town called Green River, which the motel clerk told me was popular with outdoor enthusiasts. Watching the sun slowly turn the peaks of the distant rock formations to gold, I understood why.
I stared at the laptop sitting on the hood of the car, which was my other reason for being out here alone. I dreaded making the call, dreaded the worry and anger I would hear in Nate’s and Tristan’s voices, but I had to call and let them know we were okay. I wasn’t sure if Tristan would even be there or if he was out looking for me, but Nate would be there for sure. Kelvan had warned me not to use the cell phones to call home because they could be traced, but he’d assured me the software on the laptop would prevent the Mohiri from tracing my location.
I hope you’re right, Kelvan. I opened the app and typed in the number to Tristan’s office phone. There was a short delay before it began to ring. I held my breath until I heard someone pick up on the other end.
“Hello?”
“Tristan?”
“Sara! Is Jordan with you? Are you girls okay?” The relief in his voice brought tears of guilt to my eyes.
“Yes, she’s –”
“Where is she? Is she alright?” Someone demanded in the background, and I knew it was Nate before Tristan put me on speaker. “Sara, what the hell were you thinking running off like that? Where are you?”
I took a deep breath. “I can’t tell you that. I’m sorry I worried you, but I had to do this.”
“Worried? I’ve been half out of my mind that one of those monsters will find you.” I had never heard Nate so upset. “I know you’re angry about the decision to take you away, but this is not the way to handle it.”
“His decision, not mine.” I squeezed my eyes shut. “I know you all want to protect me, but I can’t live that way, to be constantly guarded and never allowed to have any control over my own life. You know me, Nate. That would kill me.”
His tone softened. “Then we’ll figure something out. Just come home.”
The plea in his voice made my stomach knot, and I tried to think of something to say that wouldn’t cause him more pain.
“Tell us where you are and someone will be there in hours,” Tristan said, mistaking my silence for concession.
I stared at the ruggedly beautiful terrain and steeled myself to say what I had to say. “I can’t do that. This is about more than controlling my life. I’m tired of hiding and watching people I love get hurt. I don’t want us to spend our lives looking over our shoulders.”
“What are you saying?” Tristan asked slowly.
“I’m saying that as long as the Master is alive, none of us are free.”
Tristan sucked in a sharp breath. “Sara, you can’t mean to go after him alone? That would be suicide.”
“I know that. I’m just going to find the person who knows his identity.”
“Madeline.”
“Once I find out what she knows, I’ll tell you and you can take care of the rest.”
“What makes you think you can find your mother when Tristan’s people can’t?” Nate asked. “She could be anywhere in the world.”
I heard clicking in the background and knew Tristan was on his computer, most likely asking his security guys to trace the call. I sent up a silent prayer that Kelvan’s software blocked them from tracking me.
“I have my sources too, and according to them, Madeline is a few hundred miles from where I’m standing. If they’re right, I’ll be paying her a visit tonight.”
The clicking stopped. “Sara, if you know where Madeline is, tell me and I will bring her in.”
“She’ll see you coming, but she won’t expect me.” I let out a short laugh. “Who knows, maybe she’ll be curious enough to meet her daughter that she won’t try to run.”
A door opened behind me, and I turned to see Roland leave our room and start toward me. It was time to get on the road again.
“Listen, I have to go.” Nate and Tristan began to protest, but I cut them off. “I only called to let you know we’re okay. I’ll call again in a day or so.”
“You haven’t asked to speak to Nikolas,” Tristan said. I suspected he was trying to keep me on the line as long as he could, which meant he was having trouble tracing the call.
“That’s because I know he isn’t there.”
“You should call him.”
“I’m in no mood to be yelled at right now.” I bit my lip. I did want to hear Nikolas’s voice, even if he was yelling at me. I just didn’t trust myself to speak to him yet.
I changed the topic. “By the way, how are Seamus and Niall?”
“Furious they were tricked so easily. It may take them a while to live it down.” Tristan released a slow breath. “You can’t go around using your power on the warriors, Sara.”
“Nikolas taught me anything is fair in a fight. They use their strength and speed against me. My power is my strength, so why shouldn’t I use it to level the field?”
“I don’t think that is how he intended for you to use it.” Tristan was stalling now, trying to keep me talking. Kelvan’s software was obviously working as he’d promised, but I didn’t want to take any chances.
“Tell Seamus and Niall I’m sorry.” My hand hovered over the keyboard. “I have to hang up now. I love you both and I’ll talk to you again soon.”
“Sara, wait –” Tristan said, but I ended the call before he could finish. I swallowed hard and closed the laptop with a shaky hand.
Roland leaned against the car. “Rough call?”
“It was a lot harder than I thought it would be.” I picked up my cup and drained the last of my coffee. “Do you want to use the laptop to call your mom? She must be worried.”