Page 94 of The Souls Harvest
I sense the fury in my eyes when the colour abandons Tabitha’s face.
I lower my finger and force myself to ignore Galen standing in my peripheral vision. It seems he’s decided another step would be too much, and he halts as soon as I curl my fingers into fists at my side.
Tabitha clears her throat, holding her hands up. “Tell you what,if you don’t like it, you can punch him.”
“What?” Galen exclaims.
I admire her quick thinking and how she’s just come up with a way to channel my distress and divert it away from Galen. I pretend I don’t notice, but it works because all I can think of right now is that one name, a blurred face and a gentle voice offering me a drink to soothe my pain.
Tabitha’s eyes quickly dart from me to Galen to ensure he gets the warning and doesn’t move a muscle.
I step away from the kitchen door, marching straight for Tabitha and ignoring Galen, who throws his hands in the air, points at Tabitha, then at himself in a silent monologue.
“Where. Is. He?” I control every word. They don’t need to know about the thunderstorm happening inside me.
Tabitha steps to one side, gesturing to the bench behind her as if offering a safe space to sit and talk.
Except for the limited view offered by the window in my room, this is the first time I can admire the odd beauty of HQ. Everything behind its walls seems luxuriant and alive compared to its wrecked, dangerous façade. Its grass is green, as if the Great Famine never touched this place, its trees heavy with fruit I only tasted in Libera, and the air is so pure that only a shy purple tinges my breath.
I blink away the distracting wonders of this place.
“The building, its garden—everything you see is special and unique. And we try to protect it the best way possible.” Tabitha breaks the silence.
“By killing whoever comes too close, even if by accident?” I can’t control the bitterness in my voice.
Sitting on the bench, Tabitha gives me a motherly smile and pats the empty spot beside her. “Wouldn’t you like to know morebeforegoing after him?”
I consider my options, then trudge to the bench, dropping beside her with a loud sigh. “I wouldn’t mind knowing what the hell this connection is. Especially because I’m supposed to have it with someone I’ve never met before.”
“Ah, she heard that too,” Galen mumbles, and I fire him a look that lands like an invisible slap.
I study him for a second, then click my tongue and slide my attention back to Tabitha, ignoring him completely. “I’m not sure Galen is still worthy of my trust. But you seem nicer—and I’m not stupid. Clearly, there is something else going on. Going after this soul feels like the tip of a far more dangerous iceberg.”
“Hmm,” Tabitha nods. “I didn’t want to believe what Galen told me about your deal with Roden.” She exchanges a quick look with him that I can only interpret as an invitation to let her speak without interruptions.
But Galen rushes towards us. “He tricked her,” he says, “Roden tricked you.”
“That, I’ve assumed on my own; thanks for stating the obvious,” I snap without looking at him.
“What Galen is trying to say,” Tabitha chimes in, cutting him a glacial side-eye, “Is that Roden put you in a truly challengingsituation that’s left you with no other choices but to accept. So, don’t feel guilty for what you’ve agreed to do to Kris.”
His name being spoken so openly caresses me like a gentle breeze, making the hair on my arms stand as if I’ve been too long under the scorching sun.
Galen coughs, and Tabitha makes an annoyed sound, throwing her hands in the air.
“I was getting there—”
“I call it procrastinating,” he retorts.
Tabitha slaps her hands on her thighs with a grunt. “Well, I call it follow my ways or get out.”
“I’m already outside.” Galen rocks back and forth on his heels with his hands in his pockets.
“Oh, for the love of souls, Galen! I forgot how similar you two can be.” Tabitha pinches the bridge of her nose, closing her eyes and inhaling deeply.
“You’ve only known me for two seconds—and we’re nothing alike,” I exclaim.
“Wasn’t talking about you, dear.”
