Page 14 of Solivagant

“I wish to soul bond with him.”

The smile on her lips faded. “With a human?”

I nodded, waiting for her judgment. Her disgust. It didn’t come. Only silence.

“Please,” I begged.

More silence, then her eyes flicked back to the golden flowers on my horns. “It’ll cost you.”

“But you can do it?”

“Probably.”

“Probably isn’t good enough.”

“Again, you’re welcome to seek help elsewhere.”

My chest tightened. I didn’t want to risk Jem on a “probably.”

“And if it doesn’t work?”

“Then bring the soul to me and I’ll give you the reincarnations for free.”

I was stuck, in more ways than vines and mud. I wanted to protect Jem always, but what I wanted to accomplish was going to be risky. At least if I had a way, then I could tell him everything the moment I got back to him, and let him decide if he wanted to take it. “What’s the cost?”

“Everything. All the souls you have.”

“No,” I snarled. “Have you learned nothing from what you did to your daughter? My mother was reduced to nothing but a beast because of you, and she nearly tore off my head to get to my souls.”

My grandmother rolled her eyes. “I killed her for you, didn’t I? Really, Khorli, you need to learn to let go of grudges.”

The mark permanently ringed around my neck told me otherwise. “If you take everything, I can’t trust myself not to hurt him rather than keep him.”

She rolled her eyes again before finally approaching me. “With this gift of true sight, you will recognize all those you hold dear in every form.”

Her palm smacked firmly against my forehead and a burning sensation covered the skin there until she removed it. “There. Now you’ll see him. Do we have a deal?”

I didn’t care about the souls. I could get more. All my power meant nothing to me if I didn’t have him. But giving them up would change me. It would revert me back into the beast I once was. Would he even recognize me?

It mattered less than keeping him safe. I never wanted Jem to fear me, but his safety was more important. As a beast, I could still protect him, and eventually gather souls once more to share between us and keep us strong. Keep us together.

“How would it work?”

“It’s very simple. Once I’m done, you’ll need only to pierce the body to infect his soul.”

My brow furrowed in confusion, and she snapped her teeth at me.

“I will not eat him!”

“Oh, it’s just a nibble. Don’t be so dramatic.”

Gods, I had a lot to explain to Jem when I got back to him. I had no idea what I’d do if he decided he wanted no part of any of this. But I had to have faith that he wanted this too. Wanted me. Forever.

“Do it. And hurry. He’s waiting for me.”

My grandmother smiled. “Brace yourself, Khorli. This is going to hurt.”

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