Page 39 of The Fifth Soul

“Yes, which provides a clue. But that watch can do many things. And I don’t think the creature knew the watch was missing.”

He sits on the grass. We’re hidden away from the moonlight by the shadows of a big tree. I kneel next to him. Since my heart rate is finally slowing down, I can finally feel my hands again.

“The creature wasn’t able to see whoever stole it,” I say.

“He only saw us when you dropped your gift.” He fills in. “Whoever stole that watch has a similar gift to yours.”

His side glance tells me it’s somehow my fault. I would normally be ready to defend and deflect, but the adrenaline rush ending has me too tired to say anything. I mutter something under my breath, intending it to be a grunt, but honestly, I don't even know what I'm saying. The slight ache in my head is coming back full on.

“Would it be possible that it was the same person who hired me?” I ask, trying to move the conversation along.

He seems to ponder on that. “The creature would have remembered seeing someone, just not who.”

“You’re right,” I say.

“However, gifts can work in more than one way. Let's think about that.”

I have no thinking left in me.

As we make our way back to the castle, we take a shortcut through a garden. The moon is high in the sky, illuminating the way. I have started to count my footsteps to keep my mind from feeling the pain of using my gift for this long.

“Let’s take a seat.” He gestures to a bench under a tree.

I look around, hesitating. Shouldn’t we hurry back? My breath is heavy, and using my gift for this long is proving to be more difficult than I would like to admit. I don’t want to be a liability. So far, this gift has earned Matias and me the deal of a lifetime. I can’t mess it up.

I need a break, though, so I sit with Brandon, saying nothing. No one seems to be walking about, which is a blessing. I lower my gift and breathe in the fresh air.

“We can make our way back without your gift,” he tells me.

I shake my head. “No need. I can keep it up.”

I know he’s looking at me, but I don’t dare turn to meet his eyes.

“You can take us all the way to the castle in pain?”

“I’m fine,” I say. I sound fine, at least to my ears.

“You remind me of me,” he says.

The statement is said so softly it sounds like a secret. I can’t help but turn to him. The movement is so quick that I wince at the sharp pain that follows. Brandon doesn’t tell me I told you so, but his eyes focus on my forehead like he can pinpoint the ache. He moves his hands to either side of my temples. I’m about to ask him what he is doing when his hands turn ice cold. Way too cold to be natural. The chill directly on my head makes me sigh in relief.

“Has anyone ever told you about my gift?”

His lips are so close I can feel his breath on my forehead. Despite the warmth, it chills my skin with goosebumps running down my arms.

I can’t dream of a moment where anyone would share any information with me that wasn’t part of the need-to-know basis. Most of all, anything regarding Brandon’s abilities. I think of Sofia and Santiago. They shared much about the brothers, but nothing personal. Their devotion and loyalty are unbreakable. I shake my head.

“I can read auras. They are a mixture of emotion, intention, and core beliefs.”

I’m out of words. I’ve never heard of that gift before, but I almost feel naked. In a way, Brandon has access to all a person is.

“Don’t look at me like that. I don’t go around prying into people’s heads. Out front, they just look like color stains.”

“How do I remind you of you?” The works stumble out hesitantly.

“Your aura looks a lot like mine.”

“How much?” I ask.

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