Image (Insight #3)(80)

“Maybe so,” he thought, bringing his dimples to life.

“What are you afraid of?” I asked.

He raised his hand to trace my eyes. “When I was talking to Drake yesterday, he told me that he’d seen Dane in a lot of your lives,” he thought.

“I really don’t want to think about that; it’s just too weird,” I thought, making a face.

Landen didn’t smile, and I felt a dread build in him.

“Why are you upset? Are you still upset with him about yesterday? He was just being protective,” I thought, pulling myself up on one arm and searching through his emotions and intent.

Landen sighed and rolled to his back. “I’m sure I’m overreacting,” he thought.

“I don’t understand,” I thought, turning his chin so he’d have to look at me.

“Drake said that in the life of Jayda and Oba he didn’t choose to fight for Jayda’s children because their father, Dane, practiced dark magic; he was known for controlling the elements of the land, and Jayda feared that a drought would kill them all if they took the children by force,” Landen thought.

“He must have his memories crossed, or he’s just seeing it from his point of view. Dane couldn’t be dark; he doesn’t know how,” I thought, finding the idea farfetched.

“He remembers him being dark several times. Drake spoke the truth when he told me,” Landen said.

I didn’t say anything; I just sat up and pulled my knees to my body. I didn’t like seeing Dane in a dark light.

Landen moved his hand slowly across my back. “Drake fears that because Dane’s soul is old and that it’s practiced with the devil before that he could become possessed. He wanted me to watch him closely. He wants me to watch everyone closely. He said you’re the only one that he and I could trust completely.”

“Dane loves Clarissa; you know that, and I know that. Our family would never hurt us,” I thought.

“I’m not saying he’ll fight for your heart; I’m saying that if he were possessed, he could manipulate you into thinking or doing something you wouldn’t normally do,” Landen thought.

“He didn’t change my point of view yesterday. I think both of you are overreacting,” I argued.

“If it’s possible for Drake and I to be over taken by the darkness, then it’s possible for our family as well,” Landen thought.

I looked back at him; his blue eyes reflected the concern in his thoughts. “Are you going to say something to them?” I asked.

“No. They’re already upset with the alliance we’ve formed with Drake; they feel that I’m letting my guard down around him and that it’s too dangerous right now to do so. They’d say that Drake is trying to divide us,” Landen thought.

“I don’t think anyone in our family is capable of bringing harm to us - possessed or not,” I thought.

“I never thought Dane would use force against you either,” Landen thought, raising his eyebrows.

“He didn’t think we were thinking clearly.”

“I know that. But when I was alone with them the entire time you were with Drake, he didn’t say one thing to me. I felt how neverous they were, but he hid his intent – and that action brought validation to Drake’s fears.”

I tried to remember if I’d overlooked their intent when I walked into the room; I remembered their emotions, but Dane’s intent escaped me.

“See what I mean?” Landen thought as he felt the betrayal come through me.

“I still don’t think he meant any harm,” I said, looking down at him.

“You may be right, but when they make decisions like that, they’re endangering both our lives. If Dane had made it to the string, it would have hurt you. They thought of you being in pain; even if only for a moment, it’s just too much to bear,” Landen thought.

He pulled me to him and reached for the scar on my chest. I placed my hand above his heart and nestled by his side.

“From this point on, if we find a power or a new insight – we’re keeping it to ourselves; not only to protect us, but to protect them. Whatever they know, the devil would know the moment he took over,” he thought.

My eyes met his. “You never told me what it was like when the darkness entered you,” I thought.

He sighed, and his eyes searched every part of my face. “I felt the contentment Drake spoke of, but I fought against it – and when I fought it, it felt like my body was tearing apart. Horrible images came to my mind. At first, I thought the blade in your heart was an illusion; it wasn’t until I saw Drake’s panic that I knew it was real. I just wanted someone to hold you to take your pain away,” Landen said.

I pulled him closer. “I’m sorry I put you through that. I would have found another way if could have,” I said.

As his arms tightened around me, I felt his fear and grief as the memory played out in his mind.

“When I was in that state, I felt our love more intensely; I knew that we’d never be apart, that this body would end where it began and my soul would rise.”

“Dust to dust,” Landen whispered.

As we lay in silence, I understood why Landen condoned me to empower Drake; I knew at that moment that he trusted his insight and planned to use Drake’s dreams as navigation through what lie before us. Both Drake and Landen trusted me, only me; the irony was that I didn’t trust myself.