Insight (Web of Hearts and Souls #1)(91)

When Olivia came in the room, her eyes met each of ours for the first time, and we knew she had her sight back. She then ran to me and hugged me tightly, laughing out loud.

“Oh my God—how—what happened?” I stuttered.

“It’s amazing…this whole place is so beautiful,” Olivia said, not hearing my questions. We all stared in shock, looking at a grinning Chrispin, waiting for an explanation.

“You told her, didn’t you?” Landen asked.

Chrispin grinned, then walked over and pulled a stunned Landen into a bear hug. “You were right. I was stupid for waiting. I told her as soon as we got back, and this morning when she woke up, her sight was back…it’s amazing.”

“What did you say to him?”

“That he was an idiot,” Landen thought, with a smirk, as he winked at me.

“Well, this is certainly uplifting compared to the morning that’s transpired,” August commented.

“What happened?” Brady said as his smile fell.

The room fell silent. Felicity eased over out of Brady’s way and started helping my mother cook breakfast. Chrispin and Olivia stared with the shell of a smile on their faces.

“The girls are sick,” my father said finally.

“What do you mean?” Chrispin asked.

“We don’t know if it’s Chara or something that was said over them in Esterious, but right now they’re on the edge of life,” my father said.

“So we take them back,” Chrispin said blankly. As the words left his lips, the demons flashed before my eyes, and fear suddenly filled me. Landen and Rose looked at me simultaneously.

“You don’t know what we saw. If you did, those words would have never left your lips,” Landen said kindly, looking at me with all the compassion his body possessed. Chrispin’s regret was immediate. Olivia’s emotion fell, and her tears followed.

“After breakfast, I’m going to call Ashten, and we’re going to look for Livingston. Whoever wants to come is more than welcome,” my father said, looking at Landen and me.

At the gates of the string, we all stood dressed in black. The only traveler to stay behind was Rose. The string was calm by our home, but as we walked on the current changed to the point that you had to push forward with each step. The hum was so deep; you could feel it in your soul. Just before the passage, Clarissa whispered instructions to Dane. Landen used our gift to prepare me.

“You can’t smile, not even your eyes, and we can’t touch. You and Clarissa must lead. It’s illegal for a man to walk before a woman, it’s the only respect the women in this world have.”

I wanted to ask why, but I was too busy burning his simple instructions into my memory.

“Keep your left hand in your pocket—rings are forbidden here.”

“Then I’ll take it off.”

“No, it’s protecting you. That and the necklace are the only reasons you are not feeling my anxiety about having you here.”

I did as he said, not wanting for one instant to feel his pain; it was almost as bad as being separated from him.

“Keep pace with Clarissa. She’s going to lead us to the courtyard. Today is the day that Donalt speaks to the people of Esterious. If Livingston is here, he’ll be in that crowd. We have to leave after that. It’ll be too easy for them to see us as out of place.”

Before stepping into the passage, I turned and kissed Landen passionately, not caring who saw me do it. I needed to feel him, to have his soul tell mine that we’d return to our home together.

“I love you,” I thought.

“You’re mine, Willow. I will always love you.”





Chapter Seventeen




I warily grinned up at Landen then took my place at Clarissa’s side as we stepped through after my father. The passage led into a large building. I could smell oil burning, and the room was sweltering. My father led us up a metal staircase encased in rust. Once at the top, he knocked twice quickly, hesitated then knocked again. A moment later, you could hear someone unlocking chains on the other side, then the thick metal door opened.

Standing in front of us was a man. His years were near my father’s, yet his brown eyes were older. The man was dressed in a long black cloak shambled with dust and holes. He looked down the stairs at the large group my father had brought with him. I could feel his fear as he stared at Landen and me side-by-side.

“Jason, I do believe that you’re premature. The moon is not yet full,” the man said.

Ashten and my father gave each other a cautious look then slowly shook their head ‘no’ to the man. Landen looked crossly at our fathers, then to August for an explanation. The only response he received was smiling eyes and an emotion of pride.

“We’re only searching for Livingston. Have you seen him?” my father asked.

“Yes, he was mistaken for another and was assigned duties in the fields. His time is over today. He should, like everyone else, be in the courtyard.”

The man’s eyes never left mine as he spoke to my father.

“Am I allowed a formal introduction?” the man asked.

“My apologies,” my father said.

“This is my daughter, Willow. Willow, this is Patrick, an honored friend of Esterious.”