The Center of the Earth (The Lost Keepers Book 10) Read online

  “It’s true,” Millie said. “He was with Tate when Devon found you in that motel in Kentucky. He helped carry your body there.”

  “The Olympians weren’t supposed to strike you,” Tate added. His face reddened slightly, and his jaw clenched. “It’s my fault. I prevented them from using their powers against you. So when they thought you were attacking Rossel they resorted to physical force, instead.”

  “As did you after she fell,” Rossel said, his words dripping with derision.

  Tate’s chin dropped, and I wondered just how many of Rossel’s Olympian guards fell at his hands. Maybe I should have felt some guilt, but all I knew was pride. My soulmate had stepped up to defend me the best way he knew how. I couldn’t feel bad about him harming the very same people who almost threw Sean out of the window. They got what was coming to them.

  But as for Rossel… “Just because you found him with Tate, it doesn’t mean he’s gone good. His men nearly killed me. Twice. Rossel has tried before, too! But I get my hands on the Firelake blade and he’s suddenly reformed? Fat chance.”

  Rossel moved forward then, a storm rolling in his black eyes. My chest heated in response, my muscles flexing under his attention. “I won’t try to defend my actions. I’ve made some grave errors. But time is running out and I need you to come with me now.”

  “Pfft.” I glanced around the room to see solemn looks on the faces of my friends and loved ones. They were buying his crap.

  “I’m not going anywhere until I find Driskell.” I looked around again, hoping maybe I’d missed him in my first survey of the space. But he wasn’t there. The tablet was, though. I saw its familiar blue glow pulsing from atop Millie’s desk.

  “Everly, honey. We have some bad news.” My aunt lowered herself to a knee before me. “Driskell is missing.”

  “What?!” I stood, dropping the enormous blanket to the floor. “What do you mean he’s missing?”

  “Devon went to retrieve him from Porta Maris after he brought you three back here. But he’s gone. No one knows what happened to him. Devon is still searching even now, investigating every possibility. Sean is doing the same here in the city. We’ll find him.”

  “If he’s still alive,” Rossel added.

  I spun around to face him, sword extended again. “What did you do to him? I know it was you. Is he banished to some island again? Bound by one of your wicked curses?”

  Rossel’s shoulders fell. “No. Driskell is not the cursed one you should be concerned for right now.”

  “Who else have you cursed?” My gaze swept the room again. Everyone looked slightly uncomfortable.

  Dom spoke next. “I believe Rossel is cursed. I can’t glean any information from his mind, and he becomes violently ill when he tries to speak about certain subjects.”

  “Certain subjects like what?”

  “The prophecy,” Dom said. Then, more quietly she added, “and your mom.”

  The source of my power squeezed tightly in my chest, burning up the sob that tried to escape. I knew it. I knew he was responsible for my mother’s disappearance. And now he held the rest of the prophecy in his power as well. It looked like I only had one choice.

  “Will you come with me to Olympus?” he asked again, softly.

  “I’ll need the king’s permission, right? Is Baerius okay with it?”

  Rossel’s lips pinched together.

  “We don’t think you will require anyone’s permission.” Dom stepped forward and rested her hand on my shoulder. “I’ve been doing some more thinking, and the braid of power mentioned in the prophecy may just be your ticket into any of the territories.”

  “You mean I’m part Olympian?”

  Rossel turned away.

  Gayla shrugged. “We can’t know for sure. But you do have some unique powers. You’ve got a crazy glow. An Agarthian soulmate. And that sliver of brown in your eye makes me wonder if there might be a little Olympian magic in you somewhere, too.”

  “That seems like a stretch.”

  “Yeah, it does. But then there was that vision I had of you walking through the Olympian gates.”

  My eyes narrowed. “You had another vision? Maybe you should have led with that.”

  Everyone’s attention was glued to me as they awaited my response. Even Rossel turned back to face me. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, deferring the decision to the ancient, wiser part of me deep inside. And the answer was clear.

  “Should I pack a bag?” I asked. “Or will the Olympians accept me as I am?”

  To be continued…

  Follow Everly and Rossel as they work to get to the bottom of the prophecy and uncover a trove of secrets along the way in Episode 11: Lies in Olympus. Or sign up for AR Colbert’s newsletter and be the first to know when each new episode is released.

  ABOUT THE SERIES

  The Lost Keepers is an ongoing series following the adventures of Everly Gordon and the powerful beings in her world. Each installment is a fun-sized short novel, similar to an hour-long episode of your favorite TV show. The episodes are released on the 8th day of every month, so you never have to wait long for the next book!

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  AR Colbert is a wife, mother of two, and life-long daydreamer from central Oklahoma. She believes in the magic of a good story and would love nothing more than to spend the rest of her days getting lost in books. Her other hobbies include baking, cheering on the Oklahoma State Cowboys, and obsessively scrolling through Zillow.

  You can follow her online on Goodreads, Facebook, or Bookbub to learn about new releases.

  Other books by AR Colbert:

  The Ember Society Series

  From the Dust

  From the Earth

  From the Embers

  From the Flames