Page 11 of Light and Shadow
“Your brothers didn’t tell you where they were going? That seems unsafe. What if you had to gather a second one of us? What if I refused, and one of them was needed to convince me?” I hate what I’m saying, but understanding this process is important.
Shaking his head, he frowns. “No. The oracle sent for my brothers and me. We met with them individually. I don’t know what Raith and Liam were told.”
“What did she tell you?”
His jaw ticks, and his hand tightens around the strap of his backpack. “The oracle gave me the magic to create a portal to you, along with your name. The oracle is a group of elves who used strong light magic that I can’t begin to explain to find you. They…” He shakes his head.
“What?” His hesitation makes my heart speed up. In the past couple of weeks, I’ve gotten used to his directness and assuredness. Whatever he’s about to say can’t be good.
“They gave me the song of your soul so I could find you. It is a way to sense a person and learn what’s in their heart.”
“What the fuck?” I look in the rearview mirror and make my way to the shoulder, turn on my flashers, and put the car in park. “What do you mean, she gave you the song of my soul?”
Because I’m not even sure I have a soul or I believe people have souls, I don’t know quite how to accept the fact that he has part of mine. Even so, I don’t like that he’s listening to some inner part of me. Whatever he took, no one asked my permission. What else can he do with the magic he uses to hear my soul? Am I in control of my own decisions? I’m ready to toss him from my car right here on this busy highway, where he’d have to walk a mile to get to a town. I’m breathing so hard that hyperventilation is not out of the question. It would be another first, but I’m not ruling it out. Cars pass at high speeds as I turn to face him. Rage, confusion, and hurt are at war inside me. This seems like something he should have told me while I was preparing my life to savehisworld.
He swivels his head in all directions, looking for either an escape or danger. When he focuses on me, his shoulders slump. “I should have explained before now.”
“Damn skippy.”
The twitch of those pretty lips is almost a distraction from my anger. Almost.
Holding up a palm in a way that might calm or show contrition, he says, “Each person in any world has an essence that makes them unique. The three who come from this world and are in the prophecy were found by the oracle through the songs of your souls. The oracle found the right song and placed its melody inside me so I could find you.”
“And manipulate me?” I want to hit him, but I keep my hands fisted in my lap.
He shakes his head. “No. Just find you and ask, beg, if necessary, to get you to come and help us. If I hadn’t had thatsong inside me, I might have come through anywhere in your world and never found you.”
Letting out the breath I’ve been holding, I want to believe him. “Is it still inside you, this part of my soul?”
“Yes,” he admits without any shame and stares into my eyes boldly, as if he’s never giving up some prize.
“Why? You found me. You should give it back.” Do I want to take it back? Do I even believe I have a song of my soul? Every moment with Aaran challenges what I know or don’t know.
“You say that as if I’ve taken something away from you. I can assure you that’s not the case.” He looks out the rear window, then beyond, to the trees that line the road. “I have the song so I can find you if you’re lost. It’s still inside you, clear and strong, Harper.”
“Why don’t I hear it?”
“Because it’s always been there and you have become so used to it, you don’t notice. It’s been a part of you since the moment you were conceived. I imagine that people who live near this road stop noticing the sound of the traffic.” He shrugs.
“Do you hear your song?”
Why must his smile stir my insides so thoroughly?
“When I listen, yes.”
“Fine.” At least for now. I’m not done with this conversation, but sitting here in the open is making him nervous. I put the car in gear and find room to ease back into traffic.
“You are extraordinary.” He returns to his watchfulness and his grip on his backpack.
“I’m average.”
He chuckles.
Chapter Four
Aaran
When it gets dark, Harper is struggling to keep going. I wish we had cars in Domhan so I could assist in our travels, but we don’t. We travel by horse. Long ago, there were dragons, but they left when the witch queen gained power and captured one of them.
