Chapter Thirty-One - WYLIE

                                    

                                          


                          
When the Purities' leader glittered back into the valley without Linh, Wylie prepared for a fight.
                          
	After she had revealed what she planned to do, she'd told him to stay put, act natural. So he had. Despite every fiber in his being screaming, DON'T DO THIS, LINH, he hadn't argued.
                          
	I need to find my way. 
                          
	Maybe she did—maybe that was what she thought she was doing. And what kind of friend would he be if he held her back? She'd never forgive him—and for a moment, he'd let that fear hold him back. 
                          
	He'd watched as she conversed quietly with the leader, watched as they leaped away, waited for them to come back, only for the one to return.
                          
	Watch and wait. That was what he'd been commanded to do—but he couldn't. Not now. 
                          
"Where is she?" he demanded, shoving his way to the Purity. "Where did you take her? What did you do?"
                          
 As he got closer, he could see the blurry details of the elf's face. His skin was pale, his hair black... but that was all Wylie could make out. 
                          
Nothing. He could figure out nothing of what he wanted.
                          
But none of that would matter if Linh was hurt.
                          
Thinking of her face, wrapped in brown cloth, silver eyes sharpened like knives, emotion overcame him. He growled, grabbing a fistful of the leader's tunic and shoving him against the cave wall. "Where. Is. She?"
                          
The leader... laughed. He moved his hands to make a surrendering motion, but Wylie pushed him even farther into the rock, and he let them fall back to his side. "Not to worry. I only took her to the plateau above this canyon. We discussed her wishes, and I left her to consider. She's absolutely fine."
                          
Even though Wylie knew he couldn't trust a Purity's word, he felt the muscles in his shoulders relaxing. He released the leader, but kept his arms ready. 
                          
"You're protective of this girl?" the leader asked after a moment of silence.
                          
Wylie clenched his jaw. "She's my friend."
                          
"Ah, yes. The beautiful bond of friendship. I had a friend once, too, but... well. Some things aren't meant to last."
                          
The words sent Wylie to the part of his fear that was fueled by anger. What had Linh done? Why had she done it?
                          
"I see you're not as easy to persuade as your Linh."
                          
Wylie tensed again. "She's not a child—she's not gullible. And she's not mine." She's her own person, who can make her own mistakes, who doesn't need me to interfere, he finished in his mind.
                          
Yet his brain wouldn't take it. Everything he knew about her, everything they'd been through... Was it all a mask, hiding who she really was inside?
                          
Who are you, Linh?
                          
Wylie shook his head, even though he'd been asked nothing. "She can't join you. You can't let her."
                          
"I see," the Purity said. "You want me to convince her to turn away and ignore this calling. Or, as I predict would be your method, refuse her altogether. I'm sorry to disappoint, but that order is not in my power. Only Linh can decide her future now."
                          
"But you're the leader of this whole organization! You have to do something."
                          
"That's where you're wrong—the Purities don't have a leader. Not one, anyway. We welcome everyone who wishes to join, and no one has more power than the person standing next to them."