Beauty's Beast(44)

Alon’s attention snapped back to his mother.

She nodded the confirmation to his unspoken question. “She is married to Blake Proud. Apparently Aldara does not feel she must spend her life like some outcast. You are part of this world, son. It is past time you claim your place.”

Alon covered his face with his hands. His mother still did not understand. She was blinded by her love and could not see them for what they truly were—soulless hunters, incapable of loving or being loved.

Bess rubbed his back as she had done when he was a boy and still unable to hide his true form.

“Tell me why, Alon. At least give me that.”

He lifted his weary eyes to meet her piercing ones.

“Mother, when Nagi tore the souls from the other Halflings, we alone were standing.”

“Yes?” Her brows tented in question, for she still did not understand.

“He could not tear our souls from our bodies, because, like him, we have none.”

She was on her feet an instant later. “What?”

He stood, as well. “Without souls. That is why he could not take them. He said so, told us. Do you understand now why I can’t go to her?”

Bess sank back to her seat and stared off into space. He could only imagine the shock of this. To realize that all the children she had adopted were not children, not eternal souls trapped in ugly little packages—but unnatural monsters.

When she finally met his gaze, he was taken back. He had expected to see pity or pain, or perhaps even sorrow. Instead, he saw a familiar gleam that in younger days would have sent him headlong in the opposite direction.

“You have a soul, Alon. All living creatures have a soul.”

“We don’t.”

They stared in silence, deadlocked. His mother dropped her voice to a soothing coo. “Is this why you left Samantha?”

He nodded.

“Do you love her?”

“What does that matter? I can never be like you and Dad. I can’t cross with her to the Spirit World.”

“You do this thing because you love her?” Bess coaxed.

“Yes!” he snapped, folding his arms across his chest. “Because she deserves her true soul mate.”

His mother used her thumb and index finger to rub her eyes. Then she glanced skyward, as if calling for help from above. At last she turned to her eldest son and took both his hands. He resisted a moment and then allowed her to unfold his arms. She stared up into his eyes.

“Alon, my dearest boy, you have a soul. The Guardian of the Way of Souls told me so long ago.”

He looked away. His mom squeezed his hands. Alon kept his head averted, but now glanced at her from the corner of his eye. He did not like the hope that crept back into his belly, swelling like a sponge in warm water. He couldn’t bear it if he gave in to the hope only to have it crushed out of him once more.

“I spoke to Hihankara. She said that all the children of Nagi bear the markings necessary to gain entrance to the Spirit World. She said she thought only Soul Whisperers were born with such marks. But that all Ghost Children bear them, too. Do you hear me, son? You have a soul and you will one day enter the Spirit World. Hihankara told me so.”

“She could be wrong,” he whispered, longing to give in to the possibility even has he dug his heels in further.

“Alon.” Tears filled her eyes. “I saw Gregory and Gail on the Road.”

He stilled, thinking of the brothers and sisters he had lost. Gregory and Gail had fallen early in the battle.

“I called to them, but they begged to go. I had not the heart to force them back to us. Do you understand? I saw their souls, brilliant silver and shining bright as the face of the full moon. You have a soul, Alon. And you are born with your feet already upon the Red Road. Your love will not hinder Samantha. It glorifies her, it strengthens her and it protects her.”

Alon sank back against the bench. His heart now raced and his ears were ringing as if he flew very fast.

“Is it true?” he whispered. “Can it be?”

“Yes.”

“Then why could Nagi not tear our souls away with the others?”

“I know only that it is not because you do not have one.”

He did not remember standing, but suddenly he found he was on his feet.

“I have to go to her,” he whispered, more to himself than to his mother. “Where is she?”

“Back with her parents in Yellowknife.”

Alon was already airborne.

“Wait! I haven’t finished.” His mother’s words receded as he flew fast. He needed to get to Samantha.

Alon rocketed through the skies, night to day to night once more, not stopping, racing higher and faster than he had ever gone. He rose so high he saw the glittering path that led to the Spirit World, and he saw the shining silver souls walking along the path.

Then he came down, low to the ground, sighting the topography, searching for the Great Slave Lake, which would mark his arrival. He found Yellowknife and recalled Samantha telling him that Nagi found them because she had expelled a ghost from a boy in a place called Dogrib. He started there, finding a Skinwalker, a wolf, whom he recognized by his scent. His name was Nodi, a tribal leader, and he said he had fought with Sebastian in Wyoming. He did not recognize Alon in this form, but seeing him turn to his fighting form convinced him. Nodi provided him with clothing, jeans, boots and a navy blue jacket with a king salmon embroidered on the breast. After he learned Alon was Aldara’s brother, he agreed to lead him to the Prouds’ home.

His arrival was not as private as he would have liked. Nodi, his elder escort, brought him to Sebastian, who looked less than pleased to see Alon. His wife, Michaela, welcomed him to their large, three-story home, though Alon perceived from her breathing and heart rate that his unexpected appearance made her anxious.

Blake turned up next and clearly wanted to kick his ass, but his new wife, Aldara, held on to his arm. He appreciated her support until she told Blake that if anyone was going to pummel him, it would be her.

It was unanimous. None of them wanted him here. They stood in the living room, like a stone wall.

“Samantha?” he asked again.

“She doesn’t want to see you,” said Aldara.

He lowered his chin and glared at his sister. “That wasn’t what I asked.”

“You have been absent for months. You did not even attend your own sister’s wedding. Why now?” asked Michaela Proud.

“My mother tracked me down. She told me...” How did he say this? “She told me where to find her.”

Her dad took a menacing step in Alon’s direction, but his wife’s hand stayed him.

“Let him finish,” said Samantha’s mother.

Alon knew he had been a fool and that his misguided effort to protect Samantha had actually hurt her deeply. He did not blame her loved ones for trying to protect her from further harm.

“I thought...” He stopped, checked himself and then realized he would not be able to keep his dignity. He would not be able to appear as anything other than what he was, a fool who had used their daughter and then tossed her aside. If he was going to get to Samantha, he’d have to begin with that. “I have feelings for Samantha.”

Her dad’s hands curled into fists.

He hurried on. “But I didn’t believe I was right for her.”

“You left without a word because you cared? Is that what you expect us to believe?” asked Blake.

“I did.”

The lines about Aldara’s mouth softened and her brow lifted, giving him the first sign of a willingness to listen. “What changed your mind?”

“I was wrong, Aldara. What I said to you, what I believed about us. All wrong. Mom told me she saw Greg and Gail on the Spirit Road. She saw their immortal souls. We have them, Aldara. We all do.”

Aldara’s shoulders slumped and she swayed against her husband, who wrapped his arms about her instantly. She nestled against Blake, buried her face in his coat and wept out her relief. Blake’s eyes pinched closed and his head bowed. Alon understood then. She had told him and he had accepted her anyway.

“Blake? What?” asked Sebastian.

Michaela spoke now, moving past her husband to stare at Alon with a look of absolute astonishment. “You doubted this?”

He nodded, grimly. “I was certain...so certain that I made a grave mistake.”

“Letting her go?” asked Sebastian.

“I need to speak to her.” He put it all out there, telling them the truth, not trying to keep his pride, for he had none left. “I need to tell her that I was wrong, that I’m sorry and that I love her. I just wanted her to be happy, and I couldn’t see that I could ever make that happen. But if she’ll give me another chance, I’ll spend the centuries trying to make up for what I’ve done.”

The room fell so silent that he could hear his own stomach growling. No one moved as his gaze flicked from one frowning face to the next.