Page 45 of The Souls Harvest
“I’m sorry.” I blink. “I’ve just remembered there are some things I must prepare before crossing. Dinner tonight? My treat…”Shit!I hope this doesn’t trigger any lingering memories. I wait, holding my breath until my lungs no longer allow it, but he raises his finger and pokes me on the forehead.
“Your mind is such a convoluted net of thoughts. We should create a card game out of it; we could be millionaires,” he laughs.
He doesn’t remember.
I take a step back and get on my tiptoes to pull his hood down. “And then what? Invest in Libera shares? Buy a bench in the square and have our names on it. Maybe buy the doughnut place?” I give him a genuine smile. Galen has the special power to make me feel safe, always.
The sea lapping at the shore turns into a distant sound, calming against the rumble in my ears when Galen slowly leans towards me. He blinks a few times, confirming that time hasn’t stopped.
His skin is soft, if not for a light stubble when I cup his face. We’re so close the purple air escaping our lungs becomes onebreath.
“If anything happens to you this time…” he murmurs against my lips before resting his forehead against mine.
“It’s just another mission,” I reply, breaking the whispered connection between us, setting back on my feet when my legs are too tired of standing on tiptoes to remain at Galen’s eye level.
But unexpectedly, Galen wraps one arm around my waist, tugs me against him, and tilts my chin up to kiss me like he’s never done before—softly, tasting the grains of sugar still stuck on my lips.
My eyes are still wide with surprise when Galen slides his hand off my face, lowers it to my waist, and pulls me closer.
Deprived of Galen’s warm touch, my skin cools down, grazed by the sea breeze, blowing from the distant shore. I gently push him away, with my cheeks still stained with the idea of what that kiss could have led to. His heart thunders beneath my fingers when I rest a hand on his chest.
“Don’t go.” His voice gets lost in the soothing melody of the green foliage rustled by the same wind that plays with Galen’s untamed curls.
I huff a laugh, “I promise I’ll come back. And I will give you a haircut.”
Voices that I didn’t notice before begin to fill the space around us. Libera’s taller bell tower begins performing its first song of the day, and from three strategically chosen spots, allowing the sound to travel all over the island, the other sister towers respond with their tolls.
“We should go back,” I say, if only to fracture the tense wall between us, as I motion back to my building.
But Galen grabs my hands, “Let me speak with Popplewish—”
“No, don’t.” I press my lips together, forcing a smile. “There’s no need. Besides…Why are you nervous about something you’ve seen me doing dozens of times?”
He searches my face intently. “Promise you’ll come to me before your crossing.”
“You’re avoiding my question.”
“Just say you will not return to Horigos without saying goodbye.”
“Goodbye? Galen, what the fuck?” I free my hands and move a couple of steps back. “I’m not going to war.”
The last word strikes something inside him. He bites his lip, hiding his hands in his pockets, and stalks past me as he sputters, “Fine, I’ll come find you then. Invited or not.”
I hear him stomping away, his steps growing distant.
“I didn’t mean you were not…Galen, stop!” I shout, spinning on my heel and raising more than a few eyebrows from the growing crowd populating the square.
He doesn’t stop but slows down enough for me to catch up.
“What was that for? Why are you being so protective?”
What do you know?
Still walking, he glances around and picks a hidden spot under the arches leading to the square. Without a word, he jerks his chin in that direction, and I follow.
When we reach the shaded area of bricks and rows of fresh flowers looped around the metal arches, Galen leans against the wall, beckoning me closer. “Hug me.”
“What?”
