Page 91 of The Souls Harvest
I nod slowly.
“What will happen to him if I decide to hold up my end of the bargain?” She approaches me slowly, steps as measured as the tone of her voice.
She brushes my back and gently turns me around. “I heard you before. It sounded like you two knew each other very well. How many times did you witness his suffering while pretending to be on the Chapter’s side?”
Her hand feels too warm when she slides it up my arm; my skin tingles when I lift mine to cover hers.
“It wasn’t easy.” I turn her hand in mine to place a kiss on her soft palm.
“Would you have kept the truth from me had our last night in Libera gone differently?”
I sigh into her hand, breathing in the light smell of cake lingering on her skin.
“I see,” she whispers, tilting my chin and cupping my cheek. “And I think I understand.”
When our eyes meet, the little girl Popplewish brought to Libera years ago is gone. July’s gaze is fierce.
Ready for thetruth.
Chapter 35 - Cakes and Traps
Tabitha
Inever understood the meaning of the word family, and I’ve never considered myself fit for it. Though the one that chose me is the only one I’d ever dreamed of—the one I would die for.
Walking down to the kitchen - occasionally the emergency room - Merya is the first one I cross paths with when she moves away from the open oven, carrying a tray of something sweet-smelling and zesty. “Tabs, just in time. Want some?”
Sitting at the long dining table, the others lift their heads only to honour me with quick nods of acknowledgement before returning to their freshly baked slices of cake.
Mack is about to attack a second slice, but gives me one of his innocent smiles before saying, “Sorry we started without you, butSablewas throwing a tantrum.”
“Hey!” A small, objecting voice comes from under the table, and my heart flutters with joy.
“Thanks for looking after her while I filled in Nik and Lily with the latest. I was surprised they made it here before us. But, given the exchange of news we’ve just had, I understand why they rushed.I’ll brief you as soon as I can, but first…” I proceed inside the kitchen and stop to ruffle Mack’s hair before squatting beside him to have a word with the person sitting against one of the table’s legs.
“What did I tell you about eating like a civilised person?”
The most beautiful pair of dark purple eyes I’ve ever seen looks back at me with what is supposed to be the attitude of an upset grown-up. But the overall image of the child sitting on the floor makes me forget why I should be reprimanding her instead of laughing.
“She said she’s working on a plan to defeat the bad people once and for all. That’s her secret lab,” Merya states solemnly while setting her latest, delicious work of art by a window to cool down. “I tried very hard to lure her out with an extra slice and hot chocolate, but she’s more stubborn than her mum.”
She nudges me with her bare foot and points her chin at the kitchen door with a silent question.
“I think she’s still asleep. I let Galen stay with her,” I reply.
“Galen asked if I could take Kris with me. And, by the rush in his voice, I bet he needs to explain a thing or two,” Jyn says, gulping down a tall glass of milk, then slamming a hand on the table, prompting a little cry from Sable. “I need to go. Lily and Nik asked me if they could get some supplies from my orchard, and some dried meat. Apparently, the numbers in The Mother are growing, but so is their appetite,” he adds, pushing his chair back and brushing cake crumbs from his trousers.
Jyn is the spitting image of a gentle giant. Strong, calloused hands, kind eyes, the strength of ten fighters and a sweet tooth worse than my little Sable.
“Thanks for today, Jyn.” We have our disagreements, but he knows I love him like a brother.
He pats my shoulder on his way out, his fingers tightening as he says, “Don’t mention it, Lorne. Let’s hope she makes the right choice. If she decides to go back to Libera—”
“She won’t,” I reply too quickly, but I need to believe a bit of luck will sprinkle upon us this time.
Years of battles flash behind his eyes when he gently bumps his forehead against mine. “I pray you’re right.”
He waves us goodbye, and I turn my attention to Mack, who’s helping himself to another piece of cake, eating it straight from the tray by the window and blowing on his burnt fingers.
