Page 50 of Between Soul and Vessel
“You didn’t need to. The answer is still no.”
“She’smysister,” he argued. “I’m coming with you.”
“Let him come,” Folkoln cajoled. “It’ll make things more entertaining.”
“I see no harm in letting him go with you. You never know—you might be able to use the help,” Zahra added, like the little mother hen that she was, always trying to look after me.
Folkoln chuckled at that. “Ah, dear Zahra, if I can assure you of one thing, it is that help is not in my brother’s vocabulary.”
“I’m well aware, but just because the big idiot doesn’t understand the meaning of the word doesn’t mean he doesn’t need it sometimes,” she snipped back. Her patience for Folkoln had fizzled out centuries ago. For my sake, they tolerated one another.
“You two realize I am right here, yes?” I asked. When neither of them said anything, I sighed. “Fine, you cancome.”
“Yes!” Kaleb decreed as we turned a corner. “When do we leave?”
“Within the hour,” Folkoln stated.
“Great. I’ll go tell Fallon. She’ll want to come too,” Kaleb said as he slowed his pace and began to turn around.
My shadows lifted from my shoulders, swirling in annoyance. Some formed into hands, threatening to reach out and grab Kaleb, who thought my yesto himwas an open invitation to invite everyone else. Okay, okay, yes, it was just one more, but still. Sighing to myself, I reined them in.
While Dameon and Zahra spoke with one another, Folkoln fell into step beside me. Privately, he spoke inside my mind,Fallon could be of use. We do not know anything about this . . . Mother Realm. We don’t know what the terrain is like, or what or whom we will be up against. If we have her scout ahead, it could give us an advantage.
Kaleb can do that too, I answered, casting the words over the private bridge that existed between the two of us.
Folkoln shot me a curious look.What’s this really about?
I let out a sigh.Fallon and Sage are a shit combination. I don’t need them scrapping with each other the entire time.
Folkoln’s laughter echoed in my mind.I see nothing wrong with that.
My attention flicked toward him.Says the jackass who feeds on emotions.
Folkoln cracked a shit-eating grin, one that swiftly slipped away. His eyes narrowed.Fate and Destiny havearrived.
What do you sense from them?I asked.
They are conflicted.
As to be expected. Will you go to them and make sure they don’t lose their nerve?
I can do that,Folkoln said.
I gave him a look, one that needed no words, because it was one I had given him thousands of times before.
He chuckled.Don’t worry, brother. I’ll be on good behavior.And with that, tendrils of onyx smoke swirled around him, and in a blink, he was gone.
“Where’d he go?” Dameon asked.
“To greet the Spinners. Although,” I sighed, “knowing Folkoln, he’ll probably torment them instead.”
“Perhaps Dameon or I should have gone?” Zahra suggested with a degree of concern.
“That probably would have been wise,” I answered, nodding as we walked down a small corridor, the north and south walls checkered with doors. “Well, I suppose, if anything, he’ll keep them entertained.”
Dameon chuckled. “That he will.”
I opened the door, and the three of us filtered inside the small room. Harper and Lyra were lying on the small bed, on top of the covers, their legs entangled. Harper had one arm thrown around Lyra’s shoulder and the other rested over her abdomen, her fingers linked with Lyra’s. On the other side of the bed, Ryker dozed in a chair—one long leg stretched out in front of him, the other tucked underneath it.
