Vindicate (Insight #5)(79)

Landen’s arm tightened around me . I thought it was to calm me, but then I understood. He just wanted me to show him. To show him what occurred in every moment that he was gone.

“Good idea,” I mumbled, reaching for Drake’s hand, too. “Just try to focus. I’ll try to remember it how it happened.”

Drake squeezed my hand, and I closed my eyes and called forth the emotions I felt over the past few day s. I started at the beginning. Walking into Drake’s chambers -- them falling to the ground. My rage rippin g apart the Estate. Brady saving both of them with not a second to spare – the words and chants Perodine and Alamos said over their bodies. The moments I tried to wake them. The words they said. The mourning that Marc was directed to begin. Stella with the looking glass that refused to work the way we were told it would. Discovering that I was not bound to Landen any longer. My daring escape that led to Draven and the others – to that Nana lady that helped me rememb er that I had their power, Landen’s love inside of me, and I could call on it at any ti me. The argument with Madison. Where she showed me her perspective. Where she called me blind. I really focused on that moment for Drake’s benefit, not mine. He needed to know who that girl was. I remembered Olivia’s speech about how I was a myth. The fight in the hall. How I healed. The cere mony with the energy and blood. Everyone I faced in The Realm. Focusing once again on Britain for Drake’s benefit so he would understand that there was someone after her. Then I remembered the last conversation I had with Bianca. How she promised she was no thing more than a distraction. That Donalt had marked us. That really wasn’t anything new, but the reason was.

As I shifted through those memories, I felt Landen’s emotions spiral; he was furious one minute – proud the next –under it all, he was concerned. Very concerned.

I let go of Drake’s hand and opened my eyes as I felt Landen’s grip on me gro w stronger. That hum gre w stronger . I was pretty posi tive I was not imagining it any more. “Well, are we on the same page now?” I asked.

“They invoked mourning!” Drake said in a ha rsh whisper, glaring at Alamos’ frozen image.

“Out of everything I just showed you, that is what you are worr ied about?” I said as I glanced behind me at Madison’s frozen image.

Drake glared in my direction. “What did I tell you, Willow?”

“What, that besides the fact that I didn’t have a twin? And by the way, you were wrong about that.”

“Think, Love. What have I s aid over and over?” Drake urged as his magnetic dark eyes began to pull me into him.

“Enlighten me,” I said coldly.

“It – would – not – matter - if – you – found – someone – who – looked – just – like – you,” he bit out sarcastically slow.

With one glance, Landen had pushed Drake a few feet back; his body was tense , his piercing blue eyes daring Drake to make a move.

I moved myself between them, staring up at Drake. “I found some one who you share dreams with. The fact that she l ooks like me is a coincidence. I wasn’t even looking for her; I was looking for a song. So that makes it fate. Not forced.” Seriously? He was still going to argue with me about this?

He pointed his fi nger at his chest. “My dreams. I would know who is in my dreams, not you. Not her.”

I glanced up at Landen, who’d pulled me against him again . His body was on fire, and I could not figure out why. “Do you think she looks like me? In a dream, would you be able to tell the difference?”

Landen took in a deep breath, trying to stop himself from saying something he would regret.

“Answer m e,” I said, looking up at him begging him to take my side on this.

“Willow, I don’t see what is on the outside in our dreams, I never have. I see your soul, and no, her soul is not yours. She is young, confused, and slightly reckless. Does she have bre athtaking eyes –beautiful skin? Does she reflect your outer image? Yes…yes , she does.”

“Very diplomatic,” I said, sighing. Seeing he’d stopped himself from saying something that would cause a fight between him and Drake.

“Very right,” Drake said f latly. “It’s your soul, Willow. Not the way you look. Like it or not, we’re bound toget her and you are not going to turn this triangle into a square,” Drake said flatly.

“Whatever…I guess she was right,” I said, squeezing La nden’s arms that were around me , pushing as much calm as I could through him.

“About?” Drake asked. “What did you not show me?” he asked, looking from her to me.

“I showed you everything. I f you were listening, you would have heard her. How she thinks love is a weakness. That it blinds you to the big picture. That we are running in circles, looking like fools to the heavens above.”

“So she’s a hypocrite,” Drake said coolly .

I slapped his face before I could think not to. “Sorry – you made me mad,” I said with instant regret as Landen pulled me back, returning my calm to me.

Drake held his face where I hit him, then tilte d his head. “Love. I’m al ready fighting for your heart. I’m not going to fi ght some Britain guy for hers. She loves him. She can deny it to you all she wants. But she loves him.”

Ah, so he was jealous. That was why he refused to admit that I was right. “She is hiding behind that and I couldn’t get that guy to say he loved her. She’s confused.”