Vindicate (Insight #5)(45)

“He’s speaking the truth,” I said to Alamos , knowing that Draven had just stopped us from walking into a trap.

“Well,” Alamos said , letting out a deep breath. “That will make Marc happy.”

“What will?” Marc said as he walked into the room hearing his name.

Madison turned at the sound of a new voice. Marc stared at her with wide eyes , then looked at me. On instinct , my father stepped forward just as Madison’s knees buckled beneath her. I was instantly at her side , and my father turned her so he could see her. “Breath e...focus on my voice , ” m y father said as he began to count slowly.

I put my hands on Madison and thought of each time a numbing calm had been given to me. She took in a deep breath and locked her green eyes with mine. “It’s not him…he’s not the one in your dreams , ” I whispered.

Madison gained her balance , then stood and looked at the bed covered in drapes , then to Draven , who was staring intently at her – expecting her to be angry.

“This –t his is what you are hiding ? This is why I can’t see them?! You led me blindly here!” she yelled in his direction.

“Charlie told you to stay , ” Draven said remorsefully .

“Like I would have stayed! You could have told me!” s he said coldly as she ran from the room , p ushing past Marc , refusing to look at him again.

“What did I do?” Marc ask ed , in a bemused tone .

“You look like your brother,” I said as I chased after Madison.

She ran down th e hallway toward the study. Charlie and Aden were walking our way with Brady just behind them. Charlie tried to stop Madison , but she pushed past them.

“Let me handle this , ” I said to Charlie.

She had the immediate intent to ignore me and follow Madison , but Aden held her back. I ran past th em as she struggled against him . Brady was right at my side.

“Leave us alone , Brady. Figure out how to see!” I yelled over my shoulder.

Madison ran all the way through the study ; instead of going down the steps that were just outside the hallway , she ran to the observatory. I assumed she would turn back when she discovered the dead end she’d found herself in , but she didn’t. I ran the last few steps between us , and when I reached the observatory , I found her on h er knees , staring into thin air.





Chapter Ten


The conversation I feared most was about to begin. I’d often thought of what I would say to the girl that Drake was destined to love. What I would apologize for. What I would say to make her see that nothing between us was as powerful as how they would feel for each other. I had fears, too. Ones that told me she could be the ‘bad’ soul mate for Landen – ones that told me that I could not undo the damage that w as already done. That this fate of choice we were all fighting had led us blindly in the wrong direction.

I walked quietly to her side and knelt down by her. I reached my arm around her and offered as much peace and calm that I could afford.

We didn ’t speak for countless minutes then she took a deep breath and glanced to her side at me.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

“For what?” she said, pulling slightly away, causing my arm to fall from around her.

“For whatever I’v e done to make you not like me. Trust me.”

“I trust you. Like you,” she said as she rubbed her hands across her face. “But I don’t trust this place. I want to end this and go home.”

I stared back at her for countless seconds, looking for the perfect words. “What if this is your home now?” I asked quietly.

“I can’t survive here,” she mumbled.

“The emotions?” I asked.

She moved her head from side to side. “The reality…it’s suffocating.”

“I understand. I come from Infante . I lived in your reality. I know what it feels like to grasp the idea of another dimension – to grasp a fate you would not choose for yourself…but I’m happy you’re here. Happy that I’ve met you.” I hesitated. “I wish I could have met you long before today.”

Her green eyes met mine. “I’m going to tell you what I told Charlie. I refuse to be anyone’s second choice.”

With that statement, I knew we w ere both ignoring the obvious. “That is not a fair statement. I t’s not like you were standing next to anyone and were chosen second. You cann ot blame anyone for their past. For the decisions they made when they followed the path they were told to take.”

She smiled faintly as she furrowed her e yebrows. “I’ve dreamed of you. I was standing next to you... and I was chosen second. Not you or anyone else in your life follows a path they were told to take; all of you follow your heart.”

“You dreamed of me?” I asked in shock.

“Often,” she said as she looked around the observatory. “Recently – you’ve become violent.”

“And before?”

“Before – before, I thought you were a mirror image, a reflection of who I would become.” Her emerald green eyes grew dim. “Then on the last blue m oon I understood you were not a mirror image. I was finally certain of it .” Anger and jealous was now reflecting in her gaze. “You were the other woman. You hurt him.”