Page 53 of Property of Hayride
“You’ll know, dream walker. The stirring in your soul will lead you.”
Other sisters come forward and bestow more blessings. I see so many that I struggle to remember all of their names.
“It’ll become more familiar soon,” Serena promises. “Time for you to leave us.”
I don’t want to and tell her that.
She laughs. “That makes my heart happy, but you see, the living don’t tarry among the ancestors. You can only visit.”
I pull Serena into another hug.
She kisses my cheek before backing away.
Cami and Lottie are waiting for me. They hold out their hands, and I run to my new sisters, clasping palms as we rush into the fog. . .
I JOLT AWAKE.
My entire body thrums with vitality. An invisible electric current flows through me, and with it, an otherworldly sensation of metamorphosis.
I’m being healed.
I know the ancestors are helping me. The witches I don’t know yet, but have joined in covenant with me, beckon me to learn more about them and my family heritage. There’s a calling deep in my soul—a thirst for knowledge.
This won’t be the only time that I visit the sacred sisters in my dreams.
My eyes open this time to a brightened room. It’s empty except for Hayride. He’s bent over the mattress, asleep as he holds my hand. Even with his brow furrowed and dark circles under his eyes from lack of sleep, he’s the most handsome man I’ve ever met.
I pull my hand from his and smooth the frown lines on his forehead.
The action wakes him. Hayride startles as his eyes open. He lifts his head and smiles. “Hey.”
“Hi.”
“How are you feeling?”
“Good. Not nearly as weak and tired.”
Relief sweeps over his ruggedly attractive features. “Your family went to get some food. They’ll be back soon.”
“That gives us time to talk.”
He gives me a wary look. “About the scarecrow—”
“It was you, Hayride. Your eyes. You rescued me.”
He blinks. “My eyes?”
“Yes. They kept turning from red to grayish blue. That’s how I knew.”
“The scarecrow isn’t all me, Nat. It’s a bond with a supernatural entity. One that also has its own powerful being. We combine when necessary but retain our separate identities.”
“Like symbiosis.”
“Yeah, similar. It’s mutualism. We both benefit.”
Interesting. “You gain his strength and skill, don’t you?”
“Yeah. You noticed that, huh?”
