Sleepers Read Online Free Page B

history, although one cooled by time and distance. Kellan and I didn’t hang out with him. He’d never fit in with us because he spent more time staring at the ground than anything else around him. We hadn’t interacted much since we were children. Even when he was around us, he didn’t speak. It was almost like he was observing us, and we didn’t know why.
    “Actually, I am,” I said, pleased this was one of the times he chose to speak to me. “Do you know where he’s at?”
    “Maybe.” He sharpened one of his quills with a knife, but didn’t seem too interested in me. Maybe that was good. I didn’t want to raise any red flags. The less he knew, or suspected, the better.
    “Can you tell me?” I asked in my sweetest voice. I tried to channel Albree’s honey laden tone without coming off too fake. I hoped it was working.
    “Why? What’s going on?” he asked. Now his eyes were on mine, staring so deeply I found myself taking a step back. The boy knew how to unnerve me with only the slightest movements.
    “Um, nothing.”
    Bryden continued to stare at me. I stared back. I couldn’t tell him what was happening. I didn’t really know myself and I didn’t know what he would do. Just because we were both adoptees it didn’t mean he felt any loyalty toward me. I didn’t know if he would turn me in. Right now, Kellan was the only person I trusted.
    “Don’t lie , Lianne. I’m not stupid. I know you and Kellan think I am, but I’m not. I know as much as he does. Maybe more.”
    Bryden cocked his head to the side, still studying my blue eyes — eyes just like him and Kellan. I refused to look away.
    “But you don’t know yet, do you?”
    I didn’t have time for his mysterious babbling. I needed to find Kellan.
    “You should be waiting on the queen, but you’re not. You’re out here, looking for Kellan. Something happened and you’re seeking his help. Maybe I can help you Lianne. Did that ever occur to you?”
    It hadn’t, but now wasn’t the time for guilt over not including Bryden.
    “I’m sorry, Bryden, but I’m on an errand for the queen and I thought perhaps Kellan could help me. It involves some heavy lifting and, I hate to say this, but I really don’t think you’re equipped to lift the load.”
    Bryden’s eyes drooped and my heart sank. I didn’t mean to hurt his feelings by bringing attention to his leg. He’d been injured in an accident as a small boy, almost killed by a horse and carriage. His parents died in the accident; so did our friendship. Afterward he refused to see me. We’d played together every day before that.
    He looked up at me again and for a moment, I thought I saw my old friend again.
    Guilt flooded my body. I hadn’t meant to hurt him and it was the first time I’d ever purposely said anything like that to him. When he turned away from me after the accident I had no one. I cried myself to sleep every night for a year because of Bryden.
    “I don’t believe you, Lianne, but I do forgive your ignorance. You will need me. You and Kellan. Hopefully I’ll be in a mood to help you when the time comes.”
    I breathed deeply, attempting to calm myself. As if I’d accept his help after he’d pushed me away all these years. Up until a few years ago, I would have forgiven him in a heartbeat. I’d tried to regain his friendship repeatedly, but he’d always put me off. Nothing I did was good enough for him and I was tired of trying to make him like me.
    Bryden limped toward the castle and the fear resurfaced. The king was looking for me and I didn’t know what would happen if he found me.
    “Lianne?” Kellan asked from behind me. I spun around and ran to him. He dropped the load of swords he carried in his arms as I jumped into his waiting embrace.
    “What’s going on? Are you okay?”
    Tears burst from my eyes.
    “The king,” I whispered, though I knew deep down half of the tears were because of Bryden. I could never admit that to Kellan. “He’s coming for