Leric grunted, his own voice breathless. “This is ridiculous.”
My brows pinched, even as Elder Jacobs started in, stating patiently how to do it, and I shook my head, murmuring, “It’s too much! Imagine the endless sky. How long would it take to block that?”
Everyone was silent for long moments, and then Elder Merrick spoke softly, his voice hoarse, “Encompass just yourself.”
Keeping my mind blank, I instantly started firing stars around myself in the ether, pulling from the ones I had already placed on the wall, twisting and turning, floating upside down at one point, my hair floating about me, until I had finally constructed the wall, placing the last fireball in place, then blowing on it, bathing it, to one large ring of stars fire around me, strong, but clear enough to see through…and instantly, Leric’s voice cut off inside my head, the emotions gone, the added power I had felt sizzling just within my reach gone…and I inhaled, wiggled my shoulders…and fucking growled like a damn tiger. A baby one, anyway, that not gone. But, I slowly peeked open one eye, not seeing anything wickedly twisted, so I let both eyes open, seeing Leric on the ground, still working on his wall, eyes closed in concentration, his face a bit pale. He was much larger than me, so it would probably take him a while longer, but he didn’t react to me opening my eyes, so the double vision must be gone.
I tilted my damp face toward Elder Merrick…only to have my cheek brush his, and through all my swirling emotions, I felt an instant jolt of arousal low in my gut, quickly pulling my face away, stuttering, “I-It…worked.”
His jaw was clenched tight, eyes hooded, black thick lashes hiding his gaze, lips thinned, but his brows slammed together with his next inhale, and if it was possible, he froze even more under me, his lips parting on a shaky exhale.
I cleared my throat, damn shocked, realizing I could still feel that…because mates weren’t supposed to feel arousal for another. “Um…” My mouth flapped for a moment, then I patted his chest awkwardly with my free hand. “I’d…uh…say thanks, but I still need to kick your ass.”
My attention jerked to Leric when he asked, eyes still closed, “You’re done? It worked for you?”
Eyes a bit wide, I mumbled, “Yes. Nothing going in or out from what I can tell.” Mind swirling, but confusion reigning, I quickly released Elder Merrick, practically tumbling down his chest I had been resting against, swiftly moving to the far end of the couch, shoving his legs off it. He was dressed, but only in a pair of white athletic shorts, his feet bare, so I didn’t look anywhere near his gorgeous body. Instead, I curled up on the edge, placing a hand over my forehead, staring at Leric as he worked, his handsome face one I had dreamed of many times after first meeting him, knowing he was creating his barrier meticulously, just as he had done with the terrible cookies we had made together.
What the fuck was the Chosen?
What the hell did it mean in correlation to the One?
…and how the hell was I able to still get aroused for someone else?
King Collins moved around the couch to squat in front of me. “Are you alright, Caro?”
“Not really.” My voice was a bit breathless, not caring if I was showing weakness right now, and I knew my gaze was wide, frightened. “I’m freaked and confused as hell.” I rubbed at my chest, feeling the…animal…the definite damn tiger inside me. “Weirded…most definitely weirded out.”
King Collins placed his hand on my bare knee, still dressed in the damn tiny match clothing. “I had to make this choice for you given the facts.”
“I know.” I placed my cold palm over his, squeezing it. “I wasn’t upset about that. I would have made the same decision if I were in your place.” I inhaled shakily, and tried to breathe out calmly. “This is just a bit much.” With not enough answers.
King Collins grabbed the blanket on the back of the couch, blankets he had placed all over the Elemental section now that I was here, a kind, thoughtful gesture, pulling it over my shoulders and wrapping me up tight.
My smile was small with my emotions as they were, but my heart expanded for him, a definite place there for him, and I whispered quietly, “You’re going to make a good dad one day.” It was safe to say.
Brown eyes slammed to mine, and he swallowed hard, his voice gruff. “Yes,” he cleared his throat, tucking the blanket under my feet, “well…I’m definitely getting practice in patience and anxiety lately, so I hope so.” He cleared his throat again, straightening, but when he moved, he only sat on the arm of the couch, directly next to my elbow, placing his hand on my shoulder, leaving it there.
Only a minute later, Leric opened his shadowed eyes slowly in the quiet around us, and he blinked a few times before he sighed heavily, sitting up straight, not bothering to stand while he stretched his arms over his head, his V-neck cashmere white thin sweater pulling against his muscles, and yeah, I noticed more than a little, but my gaze was dead on his when silver eyes met mine. He held it steadily, keen intelligence in their depths which he didn’t try to hide. “I imagine you have questions.” Simple words.
“Understatement.” My own tone was brusque, and I couldn’t hide my agitation. “You’ve know this…since when?”
“Since Tristan reacted as he did with you in my study.”
My fingers tapped on my forehead. “And you didn’t bother to tell me?”
“I wanted it to be a natural acceptance. For you to awaken on your own, no matter how long it took, instead of forcing the issue.” He stared at me pointedly. “You weren’t ready for it, either, with what that bastard did with my face.”
“And how might the awakening have happened naturally?”
“Extreme emotion.” His head cocked. “It almost happened in here that day I spied on you, didn’t it?” His gaze was watchful. “I felt the stirring inside you. It pulled at me.”
“If you’re talking about,” I rubbed at my chest again, the feeling odd, “the fury and the tiger bit, that would a yes.” My own gaze was watchful. “When did you…awaken? Because you’ve done the tiger thing before.”
His lips twitched. “The night we were in the kitchen.”
I thought that through, realizing he was saying it had happened for him when he was turned on. “Then awakening and,” I fluttered a hand, “the connecting, or whatever that just was, are two separate occurrences?”
“They can be, but it’s only ever triggered by the One to the Chosen, or vice versa. Once the second individual awakens, the connection between the two is instantaneous. I imagine the reason why there wasn’t sound erupting from you when you did awaken is because of the comatose state you were in.”
I nodded once, agreeing with this since I had felt it. “While I was trapped inside my own body, you said I’m your other half. Exactly what does that mean? And what is the Chosen?”
“Other half, means exactly that. We fit. Perfectly. Your strengths and weakness offset my strengths and weaknesses. And mine offset yours. Body and mind and heart and soul, we are one when we are together.” His head tilted at the others in the room. “As for what being the Chosen means, I cannot explain it with others listening.”
Spirit secrets.
I moved on for now. “We’re bound. I can feel that. How closely related to mates is that to what we are?”
“We run parallel. Not on the same line, but very similar. The simple point being, you are mine, and I am yours by the magic gifted to us, just like mates, but,” his smile was small, “as where spirit Elementals are always concerned, it is a choice in the end.”
I blinked slowly. “We don’t have to accept this binding?”