Page 38 of Guardian's Destiny

"Running," he answered, surprising me. I moved my body up on my elbows, trying hard now not to wake him.Sleep hypnosisran through my mind. I had never done anything like this before.You can do this, I assured myself. I swallowed. If Iscrew this up…

You won't.

Perplexed, I looked around. The words had come from my mind, but it felt as if someone else was present. Goosebumps spread over my skin. I had never before second guessed myself, had always forged forward, consequences be damned, had always dealt with the fallout later, but this? This could go bad. Really, really bad.

"Non'toktu…" he repeated. "Non'toktu Solaana."

There was no way I could have known it, none. And yet I did. Solaana was a name. A woman's name. One that felt strangely comforting and familiar.

"I'm here," I said as guilt crept through me.

"Solaana?" He made sure.

"I'm here, Vraax, I'm here."

"We must leave. It's too dangerous." He said, in English this time as if part of his brain realized I didn't understand him

"Why? What is happening?"

"The Ohrurs, they betrayed us," he said, making the fine hairs at the back of my neck stand up. I was convinced that he wasn't dreaming.

"What did they do?"

"They're coming." He started thrashing again. "Solaana, gorok."

"It's okay, Vraax. They can't hurt us." My hand moved up and down his arm reassuringly, and I felt a tremor go through his. The Soulweb Glyphs, of course.

I still don't know what made me do it, but I twisted my arm so our Soulweb Glyphs touched each other.

The shock nearly jolted me. It was like an electrical current running from his arm through mine, up the dazzling, swirled glyphs. I could feel the current turn as if it stayed right on the glyphs, not straying an iota from the dark lines.

Vraax's body went rigid. He shuddered from head to toe. His eyes ripped open, confused. he stared at me. "Sloane? What's happening? What are you…"

He stared at our intertwined arms, the glyphs touching.

"You were dreaming," I tried to explain and licked my lips.You tried to manipulate his mind, I accused myself.I only tried to get answers, I defended.

"I don't remember anything," he still looked utterly confused.

"Does the name Solaana mean anything to you?"

He shook his head. "No, should it?"

"I don't know; you were calling for her."

"Her?"

I shrugged. "It sounds like ahername," I added lamely.

"Unless you want to take this farther," he bumped my arm that was still entwined with his, "I think we better disentangle ourselves."

I had no idea when I had last blushed, or if ever, but one crept over my face right then as I pulled my arm back.

"It sounded like a good idea at the time," I defended my actions.

"I don't mind," he grinned, "it feels good."

I didn't know if it felt the same to him, but for me, now that he was awake, it was very sexually stimulating, like him brushing against my stiff nipple or rubbing me between my legs with my pants still on. I pulled my arm back and felt the loss instantly. My entire body protested against it.

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