Page 49 of Forbidden Obsession
I lean in to give Bird a hug. “Thank you for being such a good friend to me while we were alone.”
“Same to you.” She squeezes me tight. “Be careful on your journey, and return to us as soon as you can.” Her eyes shift to Rahz. “You’ll keep him safe, won’t you?”
“Always,” he says, and I shift from her arms back into his.
“Jodpirn won’t be the same with you and Rahz both gone. You’re such staples in our community. What will we do without you?”
Rahz huffs. “Vander will have to get off his lazy bottom and help out for a change. Promise you’ll keep him busy for us.”
Her grin says she’ll take this task to heart. “Perhaps I’ll start by accidentally leaving the pig pen open. Who better to wrangle swine than one of their own?”
“I love this plan.” Imagining Vander covered in mud and pig scraps brings no shortage of delight.
We’re all laughing as my name in a frantic tone is called loudly from the other side of the hill.
“Jindal. Jindal!”
Is that Father? I’ve never heard him sound quite so animated. Why would he follow me here?
“Jindal!” He bursts over the crest in a flutter of gray wings and ragged mania.
I reach for Rahz’s hand, my muscles tensing. In memory, the only time he’s used our family bond to track me down somewhere was because I was in trouble for something. Suddenly, I’m a young child again, slipping behind Rahz for protection.
“Jindal,” he puffs, out of breath, one hand clenching his chest as he lands in front of our startled group.
“Yes, Father?” My voice is small. Frightened.
His dark eyes are blazing, locked onto mine as he utters the four words I’ve yearned to hear all my life.
“Your mother is awake.”
ChapterTwenty-One
Jindal
A waveof confusion spills over me, followed by a longing so deep I’m drowning in it. I’m afraid to believe him. Has he somehow discovered my plans? Is this just a tactic to keep me here?
Or…
Is my mother really awake? Finally? After all these years. “How do you know?”
He rolls his eyes and scowls. “Don’t question me, boy. She’s my mate. I know. Come.”
Rahz draws back his shoulders. “There’s no need to be so harsh. Give him a moment.”
I’m frozen, tension roiling through every muscle. I have a death grip on Rahz’s hand that must be painful, but he doesn’t complain. While I sort out my thoughts, the others stare at me, my friends with patience and my father with barely contained irritation.
Could it be true? Is that why my mind is foggy as if waking from a dream? Because that’s what’s happening to Mother?
It makes sense. I’m beginning to believe it might be true, and with that belief comes an overwhelming rush of emotion, so strong as to slam me sideways.
Rahz catches me. “It’s okay. Go. I know you have to go. Flying is faster, and I’ll be right behind you on Magna. Go and meet your mother.”
I stare up at him, never wishing he could fly more than I do right now. “Come with me.”
“I am. I will. Go, Jinny. It’s okay. I’ll meet you there as soon as I can.”
My body is in motion without the full participation of my mind, which is overwrought with yearning. I have only a moment to be grateful Father bothered to find me and tell me before he launches himself into the air, whether I follow or not.
