Page 36 of Shattered Heir
I wouldn't mind assisting,Cade intruded.
I froze. He was there again, and that was when I realized that I had my melody back, and that the monster was gone.
One monster traded for another.
“Emma? Can I come in?” I heard Ryker’s voice from behind my bedroom door, shaking me out of my inner turmoil.
“Yes, sorry,” I called.
Ryker peeked his head in. Once he saw me, and that I was fully dressed, he walked over to me, scooped me up, and cradled me in his arms. His warmth flooded my soul, even seeping into my wet, cold hair. I felt light, and a small fire swelled within me, a feeling that only came from Ryker.
“Em, are you okay?”
“I am sorry that I hit you,” I whispered, wondering if I had hurt him.He has just been in the hospital, after all, Emma. What a jerk you are.
You are a violent thing, aren't you. I like it.
I shoved Cade away.
“I am fine. You didn't hurt me.” He rested his cheek on top of my head, and I sighed with relief as I felt more warmth from him pump through me.
“I thought that he was Shad. I thought, at that moment, that everything was going to be okay.”
“I know, and I am so sorry,” he said, wiping away the tears I didn't know had fallen. He still held me as he walked over and sat us both on the bed. I was pressed so close to his chest that I could hear his heartbeat.
“So, where is he now?” I asked, “He is still trying to soul-speak with me.”
“I don't know. I told Keil and Glasson, and we are trying to figure that out, but he is good at soul-shielding, which you need more practice in, especially seeing as he has access to your soul.”
I agreed. I needed a way to keep my thoughts private.The last thing I want is for Cade to have access to my mind and heart—also known as my soul and my melody.
Good luck with that, Sweetheart,Cade soul-spoke.
“So, more melody training with Keil?” I asked.
“Yes, you were doing so well, and you still will, but Cade has Shad’s soul. You and Shad had a strong connection, and that kind of connection is hard to break.”
“But do I have to break it? When Shad gets his melody back, if I break our connection, will we ever be able to fix it?” I looked up into Ryker’s blue eyes.
“I am not sure. You and Shad, what you have is unlike anything I have ever seen before. All of that ancient power is foreign to me.” He set me down on the bed.
“Shad remembered something today. He remembered Cade, or well, he remembered that he had a brother who had died. But, Shad also asked why we were not marked when he kissed me.Why wouldn't we have marked? I asked Mary, actually, before all of this, and she said that I should ask you.”
“I—” Ryker started, but I cut him off before he could answer.
“It’s weird, right? I mean, Shad left a note from his melody inside of me. Is that like a marking? But then again, if not, I guess it’s good that he didn’t mark me because then I would be even more connected to Cade probably, right?”
“I have no idea how someone could not mark someone when they kissed. It would take a lot of strength to just embed a note within you, and then to not also mark you? That would be near impossible. But Em, he could have kissed you a thousand times, and it wouldn't have marked you—because your father protected you from being marked.”
“Protectedme?”
“Yes. When the time comes that you are ready for that step in life, I have been given the ability to help you. As your knight, I have many talents.” He winked at me, and I rolled my eyes, pulling the covers over me on the bed.
“Oh, I guess, that’s good then. This marking thing explains why Shad was against kissing before. He did tell me that it was something not done as often on Terra as on Earth.”
“Many who believe in the Ancient ways believe that it is a sacred thing. From your mothers stories, I’m sure you remember that kisses could break curses?”
“Yes, I remember. Too bad kissing him won’t bring his soul’s melody back.”
