Page 54 of Woven Souls

“Well, I’m not dying so we can assume it’s for a different reason. Are you going to find him and ask him about Fulton or not?”

If you do not have a name, then trying to find the specific reaper you’re referring to will be impossible.Dad taps his chin thoughtfully.Besides, like I said, Fulton is most likely not in my Realm, Willie.

“If Fulton isn’t over there, we’ll have to find him.” Theo’s tone turns thoughtful. “In the meantime, is there anything you can do to help break the curse over Willow?”

Dad snorts.Of course there is. The curse would become a non-issue if she wanted it to be.He looks at me.Have you changed your mind about your situation?

“That’s not happening right now!” My heart races in my chest.

“Hold on, now.” Theo looks down at me. “If there is a way to stop demons and the Utikyie from chasing you, shouldn’t we consider it?”

I glare at him.

“My dad is suggesting that I come with him to the Realm of the Dead, but the only way to go with him would be if I choose to die.Andif I decide it’s time to go, that means you guys get to go, too. So maybe, before I look too closely at that option, we figure out something else. What do you think?”

“Ah, yeah, I’m with Willow on this,” Jonah pipes up weakly. “I’d like to fix this issue while I’m still alive.”

I wave my hand at Jonah while I stare at my dad. “See? I’m not the only one who wants to live out their life!”

I don’t know why you won’t just—

“Because,Dad, I want to do this living thing. So, sue me!” I cut him off. “You and Mom gave me the option and I chose to live out my life here in this realm. You bring this up every time you visit.”

Forgive me for wanting to spend more time with my only child. My dad shakes his head.And if you remember the stipulations to our agreement, you were supposed to keep a low profile and never use your power unless necessary.

“Last night was totally necessary!”

Yes, but what about when you used it to help Viktor here?Dad nudges his head towards the white-haired Fae who comes to his feet to glower at my dad.

“Her help was greatly appreciated.”

I’m sure it was, but it was not her job to help in the first place.My dad scowls at Viktor, then at Kwil and Theo.And if you knew the true extent of what she did to your soul you may not be so appreciative.

Viktor stiffens. “What is that supposed to mean?”

The annoyance on my dad’s face isn’t for Viktor, but rather for the rules that keep him from saying too much about his realm. I know it well. After a moment, he’s able to find a way to explain.

Because my daughter’s soul is infused with yours, whatever fate awaited you before has now changed. Once Willow comes home, she will have responsibilities unlike other souls that cross over. Now you, too, will be burdened with these same responsibilities. It will not be easy for any of you. This was not how it was supposed to be!

By the time he’s done talking, Dad’s yelling.

I certainly hadn’t consideredthatto be an issue in all of this. While I’m not privy to the information as to what happens to a soul in the Realm of the Dead, I kind of figured the guys would just have the freedom to go do whatever souls do once we’re dead, and I’d go to help my dad run the family business. Now the four of them are going to have work with us, too? I didn’t think about the permanence of this situation in its entirety. I understand why he’s so pissed.

Kwil frowns, leaning forward in his seat. “What responsibilities do you have when you’re dead, Willow?”

She does not and cannot know until she is home,my dad answers for me. His anger fades as he looks back at me.The only good thing about this situation you have going for you with these four men is that if your souls were not compatible, your own soul would not have survived. You were lucky, Willie.

I frown. “What does that mean?”

It means that fate decided to give you eternal partners and chose Kwil as one of them. My father nudges his thumb in Kwil’s direction. However, your soul could have been tied into each of the others’ just as easily. You compliment their souls differently, but perfectly. These three—He nudges his head towards Theo, Viktor, and Jonah. –don’t have any ties to another soul, meaning they were available to be your partner if fate had made it so. Instead, you managed to seal your own future with them.

There’s a short pause as my dad frowns and looks away from all of us.

“You can tell all that by just looking at us?” Theo asks, his voice strained, his hand tightening on my shoulder again.

Dad looks over at him. I do not see your flesh, but your spirits. They tell more about a person than any living body could ever share. I can see it all. The wear and tear you place on them, their unique patterns, and their jagged ends. I can also see the connection between souls. What Willow has done to you all… it is stronger than any, what you Fae consider ‘mate bond,’ that could have been put in place.

I want to look to see how everyone is taking this news, but, for whatever reason, I can’t find the gall to face the disgust or annoyance that may twist their handsome features.

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