Soul Bound (Moonstone Saga #2)(17)
Author: Courtney Cole

“Empusa, are you alright?” he asked quickly, staring into my eyes.  As I looked into his, I was so overcome with his dedication to me that I wanted to cry.  In fact, my eyes did tear up.  He was instantly concerned, followed by fury at Helen.  Turning to her, he started to grab her arm, but I held him back.

“It’s not her fault, Bren,” I insisted.  “She was sent here by Zeus as part of the game.  And you won this challenge.  It’s fine.  It’s wonderful, in fact.  I can’t believe you did so well.”

“I can’t either,” Helen sniffed. “No one can withstand me.”

“Brennan just did,” I told her with a cocky smile.  “Now go home and lick your wounded pride.  And on your way, you can tell Zeus that we have another point.”

Glaring at me, Helen snapped her fingers once again and she disappeared along with the two hooded men.

Alone, I stared at Brennan.  “You do love me, don’t you?” I asked softly.  He looked surprised at my question. 

“You doubted me?” he asked, one eyebrow raised.  “You should never bet against me, Emmie.  Especially not when it is something concerning you.”

I nodded slowly.  “Alright.  I’ll have to remember that.  I love you, Brennan.”

“And I love you.”

He opened up his strong arms and I flew into them.  Cradling me softly to his chest, he kissed my forehead.

“And I just forfeited some pretty hot-and-heavy moments for you.  Are you going to compensate me for that at all?”

I yanked away from him and looked up to find him laughing.  I swatted at his arm. He was so large that I seemed about as effective as a gnat, but still.

“You’re impossible.”

“I know.”  He smirked and I had to laugh before I once again straightened my clothing and hair for breakfast.

Chapter Eight

“You’ve done well,” Circes creaked from across the breakfast table.  She paused with her soup spoon midway to her mouth, the steaming porridge dripping back into the wooden bowl.  “I’m impressed, son of Apollo.  Mortal men can never resist a siren.”

“I’m not a normal mortal, Circes,” Brennan pointed out calmly as he took a bite of his own breakfast.  “Although, some advance notice would have been helpful.”

“I did not know in advance,” she replied.  “Zeus alone knows his plans.”

“Circes,” I interrupted.  “When do you think we’ll hear of our next challenge?  It’s maddening to not know.”

She shrugged, dipping her spoon once again into her soup.  “I know not, Empusa. Be patient, young one.”

Young one.  I had to smile.  Only the very ancient could call someone who was a thousand years old young. I heard Brennan chuckle, as well.

“I don’t know what you’re laughing about, young pup,” I told him, jabbing him in the ribs.  He laughed even harder until Circes silenced him with an icy, sightless stare.

“There is nothing to laugh about,” she told us.  “There is much that still lies ahead.  You will need to focus more now than ever before.”

“We know, Circes,” I assured her, quickly finishing up my soup so that I could step away from the depressing conversation.  “Trust me, we know.”

She nodded, placated.  I grabbed my trencher and left to scrape my dishes off with Brennan on my heels.

“She’s pleasant,” he remarked as we took care of our dishes.  Handing my bowl to a young girl, I nodded at her and then replied to Brennan.

“Circes means well.  She’s so old that I think she’s lost her tact.”

“You think?” He laughed at my obvious statement.  “If she were any less tactful, she would be a Mack truck.”

The village still sparkled with dew and we strolled through it, enjoying the morning sun.  The grass was thick and wet and the air smelled fresh and new.  I breathed it in and tilted my face to the sun.  As the warmth bathed me in its glow, I found myself comparing Brennan to it.  It was impossible not to draw the comparisons.  He was a child of the sun, after all.

“I wonder what other powers you hold,” I mused, grasping his thick arm tightly as we walked.  “What powers you might have that we aren’t aware of yet.”

Brennan didn’t seem concerned.  “It’s hard to say,” he answered.  “But I’m sure we’ll find out soon enough.”

“I’m sure,” I answered absently.  I stared at the beauty surrounding us.  The magnificence of nature was impossible to ignore here in this serene place.  The air was always hushed, as though it was waiting for something.  I almost felt as though I should whisper.   The sunlight filtered through the limbs of the trees, creating a beautiful glow.  It seemed to illuminate everything around us.  I turned to Brennan.

“Have you ever actually thought about how different you and I are?  You are born from the sun.  You are glowingly beautiful. The sun’s power is bright and warm, illuminating everything that it touches.  I am from the moon.  I dwell in the shadows, the darkness.  Moonlight provides a buffer for the night, hiding things that are frightening…things like me.  We’re so different, you and I.”

Brennan stopped in his tracks, his eyes pensive and thoughtful as he appraised me.

“Are you serious right now?” he asked.  “Truly serious? Because that is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.”  He reached over and grabbed my hand, his voice earnest.

“Empusa, you are the most beautiful creature, inside and out, that I have ever laid eyes on.  You do glow.  Your glow is ethereal because it comes from the moon.  So many beautiful things come out at night.  There are actually night-blooming flowers that solely bloom in the moonlight.  You remind me of those, actually.  Do you truly feel that you belong in the night because you should hide?”

I swallowed, trying to swallow the foolish tears that threatened to form at his sweet words.  I finally settled for nodding. I just couldn’t trust my voice.

He took a long breath and grabbed me, clutching me to his chest.  I could hear his heart beat against my ear as he spoke again.

“Emmie, you’re the most delicate and beautiful thing in the world.  Your soul is pure and sweet.  You are not frightening, not in the least.  I want you to put that thought out of your mind right now.  I love you.  I wouldn’t love you if you were a monster.”