Page 16 of I Dated the Lost Song

“Put on your headset and go for a walk. Lunch will be when you want it.”

“Just like that?”

“Just like that. You can’t fly right now, and this estate is extensive. There are plenty of paths to walk here.”

“So, I can just... go?”

“Yes.” Dr. Amber grinned. “Here is the panicked call from Kritz. Go. Walk. Relax.”

Cadence smiled and walked toward the back of the enormous house. It felt so good not to have anything blocking her sonic field. She ran out the rear doors and made it to the pathways. It was like she could feel air on her skin for the first time in years. She knew she was grinning, but she couldn’t stop. She felt good. The only thing that would make it better would be underwear made of the same stuff.

She slowed her running and breathed. It felt good. Really good. If she could run out the rest of the pregnancy here, she would be very happy to do it.

Cadence listened to the crunch of her feet on the path and stretched her arms over her head, twirling randomly.

* * * *

Amber answered thecall. “Hello, Dr. Kritz.”

“She’s out of her suit.”

“Yes, she is. She’s breathing and happy. She will be very content here for the next eight and a half months.” Amber smiled. “Do you know how stupid that suit was?”

“What do you mean? Arcady could touch her.”

“Arcady is not pregnant. Arcady is not a harmonic talent. Take a reverberating crystal and put it under a tight confinement, and what happens?”

“The crystal shat—oh.”

“Correct. Her own energy signature was redirected back onto her body. She was hurting and very badly.”

“She didn’t say anything.”

“When was she given the opportunity? When did she have a chance to speak to either of us without her sister there, eager to enforce contact?”

“Ah. Yes, that would be a complication I had not considered.”

“Go through the history of sonic and harmonic actives and what worked for them. She needs clothing that is all the same material and room to breathe without others near her. I don’t think she’s ever had a chance to just be free without the world pressing in on her. She looks lovely when she is happy. She’s laughing and skipping around with her arms wide.”

Kritz exhaled. “That is good. Can you send me what you know about textiles? I will send them to Nelith, and she can start working something out for her. You said she’s harmonic? I thought she was sonic.”

“No. She’s harmonic. She is constantly giving out a signal. She can’t help it.”

There was a long pause as Kritz understood one of the reasons why Cadence had been moved.

“You are planning on her waking him up.”

Amber chuckled and heard the slide of a foot behind her. She turned and stared at her brother. “Raek.” She hung up the call with Kritz and walked to her sibling. “You are awake.”

She walked forward to take his hands. He smiled and took in her appearance. “Im-bar. How long has it been?”

“Over a decade, Raek. Watching and waiting, but Aksalla is finally holding to their word. They have presented the mother of your child.”

His eyes went wide. “You have been busy. Is she here? How far along is she?”

“She is in the early stages, and I need to speak to you about her.” She slowly walked him to the kitchen and got him something to drink. When he had been briefed, she smiled. “So, while I don’t want you falling on top of her or sweeping her away, I believe that she deserves to live free for a little while longer. I offer you a chance to actually meet her and help her work with her harmonic skills. I will ask her if she wants a personal, onsite trainer and photographer. She agreed to be photographed at every stage in the process. I seem to recall you liked using a camera.”

Raek stared at her. “I can’t touch her?”

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