As much as she wanted to defend herself, he was right.
I felt that first call of yours. Hundreds of miles between us and I still felt the pull of your need. Distance was never your problem.
Eva made a frustrated sound. "That was different. I panicked because Caden was dying. I have no idea how I put that call out."
Precisely why you should have sought training.
"Because the Kyren have been so welcoming," Eva shot back.
Did the Trateri give you an invitation or did you force your way into their ranks?
Eva paused to consider his words. Except for Ollie's first offer, she'd had to work for every ounce of respect.
Even Hardwick hadn't given his approval right away. It had been weeks before he so much as acknowledged her existence.
Still, she'd persisted. Sometimes shoving her way into situations where the Trateri made it clear they didn't want her.
Polaris saw he'd gotten through to her.I think we aren't the only ones having trouble with trust. You expected us to reject you which changed how you approached us. Am I wrong?
"No," Eva ground out.
Our ancestral herd lands already appeared to you. You're the one who didn't take that last step.
"I couldn't."
Why?
"I don't know."
Until you do, you will never have a place among us.
Eva flinched, feeling slightly shamed. Before, she could tell herself it wasn't her fault. That circumstances out of her hands had forced her into this corner. Polaris's argument twisted things around, leaving the brunt of the responsibility squarely on her shoulders.
The Kyren shared a portion of the blame, but he wasn't wrong when he said she could have done more.
It was so easy to see with the advantage of hindsight.
Polaris let out a frustrated snort.Close your eyes.
"Why?"
Because I'm going to teach you what you should already have known.
Eva didn't move for a long moment, reading Polaris's expression. There was sternness there, but she could also see sincerity. For whatever reason, he was taking pity on her.
Eva allowed her eyes to slip closed.
Good. Concentrate on what you see.
At first, Eva only saw the darkness of her own eyelids.
Gradually, she sunk into a place in her mind she rarely visited. Only chancing on its edges in moments of extreme desperation—like when Caden nearly died.
Pinpricks of light, much like that of stars, twinkled all around her. Their brightness varied. Some so strong they threatened to blind her. Others, faint.
Before Eva could do more than gape at the unexpected scene, she felt a sense of coolness under her feet.
She looked down to find herself standing in the middle of a lake, the water reflecting the brilliance of the starry night.
