“You will reach a crossroads when you will be forced to admit the truth and humble yourself or be forever bound.”
She gazed up into his eyes and Cassian wanted to back away from the intensity as fear filled his being.
“It will not only be your future at stake.”
He tried to make light of her words, but Iza was quite earnest in her prediction.
“What other future is at stake?” He needed to know who could be hurt if he chose wrong.
“I wish I could tell you, but I cannot.”
“Is there anything you have not told us?” Cassian demanded.
“You know all that is needed. Some answers must be discovered within, and yours is there when you find the courage,” she promised.
Courage for what? Except, Cassian knew that Iza would not tell him. Even if she knew what he must say or do, she would not tell him because it was something that he would have to come to on his own. He had seen it in readings in the past.
“Do you always tell the complete truth of what you have seen?” Samantha asked.
“No. Those who come to me at fairs only want a future of happiness, or if they will win a heart. I will not lie to anyone, but I only provide the positive because they come for hope to walk away happy. I give them that. If I see tragedy, it is not shared because such cannot be avoided so why alert them ahead of time so that they worry about the inevitable.
“And you have held nothing back from us?” Cassian asked for clarification.
“I would never do so, from either of you, because you come seeking the truth. The full truth, no matter how unpleasant. And I tell all that is allowed.”
Which meant there was more that she was keeping to herself, which was likely what he needed to discover for himself.
Neither Samantha nor Cassian spoke after leaving the Romani camp, and likely because they were thinking about what they had been told.
Was it possible to know one’s true soulmate when they were met?
It must not be or hers would have found theirs long before now.
All she took away from her reading was she hadn’t found true love and not to wander.
Cassian’s, however, was more dire. Unfortunately, she did not know him well enough to know what he sought, what kept him bound and why he was unsatisfied. Further, what crossroad would he come to? What courage would he need?
Samantha almost felt guilty for allowing him to take her there because it had certainly left him more disturbed than her, yet she could offer no words of comfort.
If only she could hear his music, then she might know what to say, but he remained silent to her. Not his spoken words, but what was left unsaid.
“Samantha, I am so glad you have returned,” Lady St. Alban greeted when they entered Nightshade Manor. “Your parents have just arrived.”
“Where are they?”
“In the drawing room taking tea,” Lady St. Alban answered. “I was just about to join them.”
Samantha had not expected them so soon, but as it had been weeks since she had seen them, she rushed to the drawing room to find her parents on a settee and her older brother, Malcolm, leaning negligently against the fireplace mantel. Beside him was Chedworth. In another chair was Antonia and across from her were Antonia’s parents and brother.
“Mother, Father.” She smiled, happy to see them. “Malcolm,” she greeted her brother with a little less enthusiasm. Not that she didn’t love him but one never knew what he might do or say instead of greeting her. In this instance, he stared at Cassian who had followed her into the room. Ever the protective brother and when they were alone she would tell him that there was nothing to worry about and that Cassian was only a friend, if even that.
“I did not expect you yet.” She settled on the settee across from them.
“Your father was concerned that his advice would not be heeded and wanted to come directly and explain.”
“I insisted on a change of date as soon as Samantha received your letter. Though we are rather curious as to why they cannot wed on the twenty-sixth,” Lady St. Alban informed him.
“There is to be a lunar eclipse that night,” her father announced.
