“We did that in the Darke Games, and it wasn’t enough,” Charlie objected.
Oberi ruffled her feathers.Clearly, it’s going to take something stronger.
“Being scared isn’t the answer. Fear won’t help us unify,” I noted.
To secure our bond takes more than feeling. It takes alignment,Oberi insisted.There are different pieces inside all of us that are at war. Until we learn to bring them together, our bond will never be whole.
I felt discouraged. This was going nowhere. If we hadn’t managed to secure our bond by now, I wasn’t sure what else it was going to take to get there.
Or what else we’d have to go through to make it happen. And that terrified me.
We dicked around in our classes for the rest of the day, and waited until after dinner to meet Takahashi in the secret illusion room. We got there before he did, so while we were waiting, Charlie tried out his new glasses. He was super excited about them, turning pages of books that were spread out on the round table.
“I’ve never gotten toreadbefore. I can read braille now, but the glasses will give me access to things that haven’t been converted,” he said.
He talked about reading like it was a marvel. Something so simple, that so many people could do, was a rare gift for him. It was wrong that the world had robbed him of that experience for so long.
“It’ll definitely make research easier,” Marcus said. He kept having to yank books out from under Rishi, who lay on every tome Charlie opened.
I’d been feeling a little down, so Charlie had gotten me a caramel macchiato from Commissary. It helped a little. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one, because Kallie didn’t look happy. She was off in the corner by herself, turning pages listlessly. She didn’t appear bored, rather… upset.
Oberi fluttered her feathers from the back of the chair she was sitting on. I jerked my head at her, and she nodded in understanding.
Hey, Charlie, since we’re waiting, why don’t you and Marcus go dig up those books on Elves that you so ridiculously hid while you were trying to conceal information about Forevermore, hm? Oberi asked.They could prove useful now.
“That was forever ago, back during our second semester. I’m not even sure I know where they are,” he objected.
Well, you’re the one who buried them, so perhaps you boys can put a brain cell or two together and figure it out,Oberi said brightly.
“Fuck you, Oberi.” Charlie sighed. “But you’re right. Come on, Marcus. Oberi thinks we need to find those Elf books I buried, and she’s not wrong. There might be something in there we could use.”
“Why do I have to be the one to go with you?” Marcus complained.
“Because no one else wants to. Hurry up.”
Rishi padded behind them with a flick of his tail. Once the boys left the room, I rolled my chair over to Kallie, while Oberi observed us keenly from a distance. “What’s up? You seem bummed.”
She startled. “Oh, I’m not. Just… thinking.”
“About what?”
“I really don’t want to talk about it,” she said.
“I didn’t have Oberi come up with a bullshit excuse to get the guys out of here just so you could refuse to tell me what’s wrong. Something’s on your mind,” I insisted.
“Just trying to keep my dirty thoughts to myself,” she mumbled.
Fireworks of excitement immediately erupted within me. “Ooh, I want to hear everything!”
“Better you than Marcus,” she replied. “He’s been working on his mind-reading powers, but it’s still dirty thoughts he can hear the clearest, and mine are filthy.”
“Tell me!” I leaned in closer, and she dropped her voice.
“I’ve been thinking… what if Marcus’ twin brother had survived?” Kallie asked. “Twins in the Miriamic Coven share a soul, and I’m bonded to Marcus… so wouldn’t that mean I would’ve bonded with Dean, too?”
“Is that possible?” I asked.
“Sorceresses can bond to two mates at once. It happened with my grandmother,” Kallie explained. “And I was just thinking… why choose? I’m sure Marcus would share.”
