Insight (Web of Hearts and Souls #1)(86)

“Later sounds better to me,” retorted Clarissa, reminding Landen that this affected all of them, not just us.

Landen closed his eyes and shook his head, avoiding a sarcastic remark that he would regret as soon as he said it.

“Look, let’s just argue about this tomorrow. You all need your rest, especially if we’re going to Esterious tomorrow,” Ashten said, defusing the situation.

Marc charged toward the door, anger coursing through him. He had every intent of going to Esterious that night.

“Marc,” Landen said, halting him. “Rest…I know where you sleep.”

Marc’s face fell then he turned and walked slowly out the door. He knew we could see his intent, as well as the fact that if we wanted to we could watch him sleep without him ever seeing us.

The blunt prediction and threat that Landen had given left the room stunned; the power that we’d built using each other had escaped their attention until now.

“So, am I to presume that you two will not need me tonight?” my father asked.

“No, we’ll stay here,” Landen answered, staring at the ground.

Dane and Clarissa quietly walked out after Marc. Before leaving, my father walked over to where I sat and kissed my forehead. Ashten hesitated, then followed.

We were now completely alone, and for the first time in my life, that was something I didn’t want. I could feel the tension between us. The pressure of everything that was happening to us made itself known.





Chapter Sixteen




Landen stood and walked to the mantle. He was staring at my willow tree. His anguish hit me like a ton of bricks.

“Willow,” he said solemnly, “we’ve made a big mistake.” His words were a dagger in the heart. I tried to breathe, but I couldn’t find the air.

“Excuse me?” I managed to exhale out.

He stared at the floor with disdain. “It’s my fault that those people in Esterious live that way that all this is happening to the people you care about.”

I stood, walking to him slowly. His emotions were a brick wall between us. I reached for his arm, and he shifted away. He wouldn’t look at me. The rejection burned every part of me.

“You can’t say that we have no control over—”

“Willow, you haven’t seen what I’ve seen, know what I know. Donalt’s people— those people live a life that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.”

“Landen—”

He raised his hand to stop me. “No, listen to me. It’s a virtual hell. No color, they live in identical houses, inside and out, they eat the same food, wear the same clothes, work day in and day out. They’re executed if they break the simplest law. No one smiles or laughs. It’s dark, no life. No one has a will to live.”

“How is that your or my fault?” I shouted, defending us both.

He paced the floor, his hands on his head, his eyes closed.

“I stole your heart. You were supposed to stop all of that, but you fell in love with me and never looked back, and now look—how many people do you think have died because we were too selfish?”

“I am not selfish,” I bit out.

Landen turned quickly and put his hands on my shoulders. His eyes were different. The blue had changed, and the window to his soul was closed.

“Willow, listen to me. If you have to choose between me or saving those people, I want you to save them. I don’t think you can have both.”

I jerked his hands off me and stepped back, more angry than I’d ever been in my life.

“Are you insane? What are you saying? You—you want me to be with Drake!”

“Willow—”

“No. Don’t ‘Willow’ me! One minute you’re telling me that you love me and you’re going to fix everything, and the next you’re telling me to go to another man. How dare you!”

“I am not telling you to go to another man!”

“Yes, you are! Are you even listening to yourself?”

“Willow, I told you to save those people.”

“Which means I have to be with Drake! How can you stand there and ask me to pay for something that was done millions of years ago?”

“Do you think this isn’t killing me? Do you not feel how bad it hurts for me to tell you that? We have to fix what we’ve done wrong. Chara will go to war with Esterious, they will never think twice about it. People will die, Willow. They have died because of us, and will die because of us.”

“What did we do?”

“You didn’t go back, that’s what.” He bit out.

“So now you’re saying that by us staying here, that was a mistake? That this dimension, your family, my family—every single person who has a soul mate because of you is a mistake?”

“We didn’t stop them, and now look—look at your friends, look at our family. We did this.”

“Do you happen to remember what happened four million years ago, because I sure don’t. If you do, enlighten me. Tell me why I’m cold and selfish?”

“I didn’t say you were cold.”

“Basically, you did. I know that if those stupid charts are right and I’m back or whatever they mean, then I should be the same person, and I happen to know myself well: if I stayed here, I had a damn good reason.”