Entangled Episode Two

By Odette C. Bell

What is entangled should not be broken.
But in this universe, everything can break.
When Bruce and Emma are separated, it fixes nothing. The empties still plunge further into the universe, and the threat only mounts with every second. Bruce is forced onto a path of discovery that takes him to the heart of a family mystery that defines him. But he must get back to Emma. For nothing is as it seems with Chen, and now Emma has met him, her days are numbered.
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Entangled follows a cold soldier and a panic-stricken cadet fighting a hidden force for the universe. If you crave space operas with action, heart, and a splash of romance, grab Entangled Episode Two today and soar free with an Odette C. Bell series.
Entangled is the 18th Galactic Coalition Academy series. A sprawling, epic, and exciting sci-fi world where cadets become heroes and hearts are always won, each series can be read separately, so plunge in today.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Odette C. Bell
• Release date: Jun 13, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005272685

Book preview

Chapter 1

Emma Hawk

This… we’d won. We’d actually defeated a bonded. And Bruce was back. I—

Before I could do something stupid like wrap my arms around his back, Chen pushed close. He didn’t grab my arm, but he certainly hovered nearby. His gaze, sharp and prying, darted over his brother. Lord knows what he was trying to see. Whatever it was, it apparently took a while. The smallest grin darted across his lips. She was right. You are entangled. You are a receptor. Wow. You always had something special in you after all, didn’t you, Brother? He leaned forward and clapped Bruce’s shoulder.

Bruce’s expression was stiff with surprise. By the sounds of it, he hadn’t seen his brother in years. From the little scraps I knew of Bruce’s life, that meant he probably hadn’t seen his brother since being kidnapped. At some point, before he’d come back to the Coalition, Chen must have disappeared, too. These… these guys hadn’t seen each other since they were children.

Bruce didn’t throw himself at his brother, didn’t wrap his arms around his back and mutter that he was so happy to see him. He just remained there, stiff. I didn’t think he’d ever been less yielding. And that thought soon turned into a fact. I could confirm from one sweep of Bruce’s nervous system that he had never felt anything like this before.

Chen, he said, voice croaky.

You remember my name, ha? I thought you’d forgotten me. You weren’t even five when you were kidnapped. What happened?

The answer? Bruce had run away from home, knowing he’d be taken. It was not, however, an answer he would share.

He looked down at his feet briefly. He closed his eyes then immediately darted them across to our left. Because yeah, there was the universal key. It had survived the fight. It could survive any fight, regardless of how ferocious. It wasn’t necessarily an object in this universe, but a point through to another.

Chen’s eyes weren’t on it, but I could tell the rest of his senses were. That was a basic psychological reading of him – it didn’t come from the fact we were entangled. We weren’t yet. Bruce was still—

Come on. I need your help. Chen reached down and grabbed my hand, not my wrist. Locking his fingers through mine, he pulled me toward the universal key.

I was close enough to Bruce to see his expression. Or lack thereof. None of his muscles could move. Someone had injected glue into them. It would take years to scrape it out. He probably still wouldn’t move. What was the point? It wasn’t like he should feel emotional about this. It wasn’t like he should feel anything other than sweet relief. By the sounds of it, Chen actually wanted to be entangled with me. By the sounds of it, he actually thought I was strong and worthwhile – somebody he could not just put up with, but chose to be beside.

So why would Bruce look anything other than blank at the thought of losing someone like me?

My stomach… who cared what I felt? Bruce was about to get his way. My feelings were irrelevant. The universe, however, was not.

Chen stopped just half a centimeter away from the universal key. His hand stretched out underneath it. He had a broad thumb. It matched the rest of his body. Strong, tall, he was an impressive specimen – far more so than his brother.

I didn’t know where Chen had been all of these years. Presumably either on the hunt for the universal keys, or stuck in that prison. The point was, it hadn’t harmed him in any way. He still looked trained. And he felt that way, too. I wondered if I momentarily connected to infer that, or if my intuition about the situation was simply sharpening. But I could tell you he would be formidable in any fight. While Bruce and I were only starting to learn how to combat our enemies, Chen would already know.

I need your help to absorb the key. I can’t do it on my own. I will talk you through the process, Emma. I probably don’t need to, that said. He laughed, and it was guttural, deep, and nowhere near faked. You’re a natural for this. You would pick it up quickly. But I don’t think we have time. The Barbarians will start porting their warriors in soon. They can’t scan past your light and probably think there’s no statistical way for you to win. But they will get itchy real quick when their bonded doesn’t return victorious. Trust me, his voice darted down low. I’ve been dealing with their kind for years.

You can’t have the key, Bruce found his voice.

He’d been so freaking stiff previously, I was legitimately worried somebody had removed him from reality and replaced him with a fleshy statue. But at the prospect of losing the key, and more importantly, his mission, he found his tongue. He moved over.

His brother just looked at him. A placid smile spread Chen’s lips. I don’t know what mission you are on, brother. But I can tell you this. I’ve been doing this longer. Your part in this play is over. You can go back to the Coalition. Two strengths are better than a receptor and a strength, anyway.

I couldn’t contain my curiosity anymore. I inclined my head toward him. Two strengths?

He indicated me with his thumb. His free thumb. He seemed reluctant to let go of my hand. Was the grip protective? Not exactly. Was it greedy? Absolutely not. It was free and easy. It was the grasp of someone who knew they could roll with the punches. All they wanted to do was help you do the same.

I found myself biting my lip unconsciously, teeth sinking all the way down. I waited nervously for his answer, even more nervously as his piercing gaze settled on me. There was no way to get away from it. I could hide behind a wall. It wouldn’t matter. I could put on a ton more clothing. It still wouldn’t matter. Chen had the ability to see right through me.

You’ve clearly already figured out that you can use the light within you. You can force it outward and use it to fight. That makes you a strength. He jammed his thumb toward his brother without looking at him once. Bruce is a receptor. He can channel it. While that’s admirable, it’s better to have two strengths. Especially considering this war will be heating up now. From what I’ve seen of what the Barbarians are doing here, he tore his gaze off me and let it wander around the room, it’s clear they are deep in with the empties. He growled the last bit. Growled it deep enough and with enough force that it echoed across the four walls. They were damaged, but I was surprised they didn’t cave in as that condemnation boomed out.

I hadn’t doubted his sincerity before. If I had, his tone would’ve been the last straw. He had to be just like Bruce and me, after all. He knew exactly what this fight was, and importantly, he was on the good side like me.

My shoulders relaxed slightly. I felt Bruce’s eyes on them. Chen, where have you even been? Who gave you this mission? You—

Who gave me this mission? Our dad, of course. How’s the old man, anyway? There isn’t a damn thing I wouldn’t do for him.

Bruce’s cheeks paled. He—

Chen was a quick reader of people. Hell, from the tone of the original question, I wondered if he’d already figured it out.

He cast his gaze to the side. He looked down at his feet. Dead, ha? I guess I’ve been away for a long time. With one stiff thumb, he brushed his short nail down the ridge of his nose. He smiled. It was vacant. But at least it was there. A split second later, he focused his attention on me again. It didn’t seem there was much that could distract him for long. I know you’ve probably got thousands of questions, Emma. And I know it will take a long time to do them justice and answer them properly. But I need your help. I lost my entangled, he said, darting his gaze to the side. There was… emotion there. But there also wasn’t. I couldn’t really read through it. I have some light, but not much, he continued. I need yours – because you seem freaking incredible. I’ve never seen someone who’s as strong as you. Point is, I need you to secure the universal key.

Bruce couldn’t take it anymore. He spluttered, cheeks stiffening. Emma—

What… what did he want me to do?

It was almost like he was jealous. Of what?

I knew I sounded repetitive. Bear with me. Bruce had kept calling our light mine. Okay, he’d softened a little since then. Not my point. I knew in his heart of hearts he didn’t want to be anywhere near me, knew he still hated me, knew he still thought I was pathetic.

So what was his point now? Why did he seem reluctant to give me up? Did he think just because we’d started this together that we should finish this together?

I don’t know what’s going on here, Chen spoke right over the top of Bruce before he could open his mouth again. I can tell you this. The universe is on the line. He ratcheted up the drama, voice now bouncing off the walls louder than before. He stopped short of pounding his fist against his chest. I could tell from the stiffness in his shoulder that he wanted to.

He stared down at his brother, and a funny thing happened. Bruce’s shoulders had been equally strong previously. His stance had been equally balanced and poised. But now, at one look from his brother, Bruce took a step back. His gaze darted down, drooping limply like once proud flower petals succumbing to a close fire.

It’s nothing personal, Brother. I’m glad to see that you’ve become the man you have. One day I’ll find out where you disappeared to. Not today. We’ve gotta get the universal keys. There’s no point being ashamed. Not everyone can be a strength. They are rarer. Much rarer. The expansion light probably entangled you to Emma here because it couldn’t find anyone else. That’s fine. It’s no statement about your character. But I’m here right now. The mission is in good hands. It’s time to get out of here. Now we have a key, Emma and I can redirect our light and transport you anywhere you want to. Do one favor for me, though, Chen’s tone changed.

Bruce looked up at him. I… I don’t think I’d ever seen Bruce look like a little boy before. It was clear he’d used all of the experiences in his life to squish the kid who’d once been in his soul. But now, for a flickering moment, I saw his eyes widen, saw his vulnerability and indecision. What?

Pour a drink to honor the old man. Tell him I’m still on the hunt. And tell him, Chen sliced his gaze over to me, that I’m not gonna fail. I found the one thing I need to move forward.

I thought Bruce would remain as the little boy in front of his brother. He seemed to have a complex around him. I could tell that Chen had always been bigger, better, and further ahead. But for a flash, all of that changed, and something rose in Bruce. She’s not a thing, he said in a careful voice that was nonetheless deadly.

Chen blinked once, his brows flattening as his lips kinked up in a smile. What, Emma? Of course she isn’t. She’s incredible. Now, come on. He didn’t explain what he was speaking about. He pulled me forward toward the universal key.

We already stood close. Close enough that my stomach churned. My mind did loops. I… is this what Bruce felt when he discerned them from