FALL (The Senses) by Cindy Paterson Read Free Book Online

after him, following Waleron’s
scent as if he were the one calling to her. Xamien tried to stay out of the
memories as much as possible, but on occasion, to make a new path, he needed
something to get her to follow. A memory of when Waleron had taught her how to
grapple. A moment when she fell out of a tree. The memory of Waleron racing her
across a meadow on horseback. Xamien never intruded on their intimacy, knowing
that he could make a path without interfering on something so personal.
    He had
no awareness of time as he made a trail to where Delara could hear his voice.
He was her only hope to pull her from the drudges of her mind.
    One more
path. Xamien could see the light, but he could also feel her hesitation. She
was pulling back, ready to free fall down to where she thought she was safe
from the hurt.
    “No
Delara. You will come with me,” Xamien ordered. His fingers trailed a path down her cheek, hoping she
felt his touch, would know that he was real and he wasn’t letting her go.
    “Waleron
wants you to live.”
    She took
a step back and he swore beneath his breath. If he didn’t take control, he’d
lose her.
    “Do
as I say Delara. I will not leave you here.” He cupped her cheek. “ This place is no longer
safe. The memories of him will die and you will be left in darkness. The light
is already fading. Do you feel it? Do you feel your body getting cold? That is
the darkness.”
    The
uncertainty in her mind fought against him, yet wanted to trust. God, he wished
he could make her follow him, but she was frozen. Refusing to go any further.
    If only
he’d known her before, he’d be able to talk her through it, but he was a
stranger and she felt that.
    “It’s
safe here. Warm. In time, you’ll heal.” He unconsciously stroked her hair with the back of
his hand. “You love him. He knew that, Delara. He’d want you to love him in
life, not in death.”
    She
remained impassive to his words. She wasn’t going to come with him. A stranger.
He’d done as much as he could. Now it was Jedrik’s turn.
    The
moment he pulled from her mind, he felt as if a part of him had dissolved.
There was an emptiness. God, it was as if he’d lost a part of himself within
her mind. That had never happened to him before. He guessed it was the extended
period of time he’d been immersed inside her thoughts and memories. He looked
down at her, the strange craving he felt still lingering. He shook his head,
disturbed by it, and yet his instinct said to let the feeling go—for now.
    Xamien
walked to the door and opened it.
    Jedrik
hurried to his feet. “Damn, you look like shit.”
    “Five
hours of mindweaving can do that to a guy.” He shook Jedrik’s hand. “Be with
her, she is near the surface. I cannot convince her to waken. I suspect you can
draw her back to the living. ” He glanced back inside the room. “Her love for
him—it is a remarkable love story. And a devastating tragedy.” Xamien turned
and walked down the hall.
     
    “Delara?”
    That
voice. She knew that voice. Jedrik. She took a step towards him.
    “Delara,
it’s time honey. I need you to take my hand. Come on, sweetie.”
    The bed
sagged beneath his weight. She felt the heat from his skin as he curled his
fingers around her own. “I need you to squeeze my hand, so I know you can hear
me.”
    She
walked closer to where the man she trusted, knew as her best friend, told her
to go. She felt the coldness seeping into her bones, the dryness in her throat,
and the weakness in her limbs. She didn’t want to go. It wasn’t safe. It was
too real. She was too afraid. Too alone.
    “You
will only be alone if you stay.” She recognized his voice. It was the man who’d found her in the depths
of her mind and brought her close to the surface. “No matter where you are,
I will always bring you back safely. Go to Jedrik.”
    “I’m
scared.”
    “Me
too, Kitten. Do it for the love of the man you’ve lost. Make him proud,
Kitten.”
    As she
moved