My Tethered Soul: Volume 2 (Reaper's Rite) by Dorothy Dreyer Read Free Book Online Page A

your instincts. Feel what you need to happen. And when you’re ready, throw the knife.”
    “But what if I hit something I’m not supposed to?”
    “Don’t worry; it’s just Gavin standing there. I’m sure you won’t hit him.”
    “What!”
    He laughed and gave my shoulders a squeeze. “I’m kidding. There’s no one there. It’s just you and the target. Feel your way. And throw the knife.”
    I held my breath and lifted my arm, trying to memorize what I’d learned so far. When I could see the target, that is. Guessing where I’d have to let go, I swung my arm and flicked my wrist, releasing the dagger. Chase’s sigh told me I was way off target.
    “You’re letting your nerves get in the way. Concentrate on the energy from your being. Find the target without looking.”
    I bit my lip. How was I supposed to find the target without looking at it? This was crazy. I let out a small grunt of frustration. When I threw the dagger this time, I heard a small thunk , as if I hit the wooden fence behind the target.
    “Missed again?” I asked.
    “Try to feel where the target is.”
    “I’m trying.”
    “Do you feel the sun on your hair?”
    “Yeah.”
    “So you know where it is without seeing it.”
    I shrugged. “I guess.”
    “Don’t guess. Know it.” Chase stood close behind me and placed his hands on my hips. “Feel that?”
    I swallowed. “Yeah.”
    “The target is right in front of you. You’ve seen it a million times. You know the distance. Try to feel it.”
    I took a deep breath and let it out.
    “Now try to hit it.”
    The familiar buzzing started in my bones. I focused on it, drew the energy from it, and pushed it forward from my body. My fingers tingled, and I tightened my grip on the dagger’s handle. I lifted my arm, letting the hot blood flowing through me guide my actions. Then I swung.
    Chases squeezed my shoulders. “Yes!”
    I pulled the blindfold up to see for myself. And there it was. The dagger had hit the target dead center.
    “Wow, that’s impressive.” Gavin walked toward us from Lilura’s back door, a sideways smile playing on his lips.
    So Chase wasn’t kidding when he said Gavin was there. Jerk.
    “Training’s going good, I guess,” Gavin said.
    “Now that you’re here.” I tugged on his sleeve.
    Chase rolled his eyes.
    “Hey, guys!” Naomi exited the back door and skipped toward us.
    “Naomi?” I stepped forward. “What are you doing here?”
    Gavin put a hand on my shoulder. “She told me.”
    “Told you what?”
    “About the sleepwalking episode.”
    I glared at Naomi. “You told him?”
    Naomi wrung her hands. “I was worried about you, Zadie. I mean, come on, you could really get hurt. Or, you know, dead.”
    “Still, don’t you think it’s my business to tell him?”
    “Sounds like she was just being a good friend.” Chase nodded in approval at Naomi. Her smile was huge.
    “Did you know about this?” Gavin asked Chase.
    I held my palms up. “I just told him now.”
    “I would have told you too, Chase.” Naomi shrugged. “I just couldn’t find you in the halls at school.”
    “We’ll talk to Lilura after practice.” With a creased brow, Chase rubbed under his lip. “She’s been feeling a bit ill, but she should be downstairs soon. I’m sure she’ll have a theory about it all.”
    Letting out a heavy sigh, Gavin crossed his arms. “What do we do in the meantime? She’ll need to be watched at night.”
    Feeling embarrassed about the whole thing, I ran my hands over my face. “I’ll talk to Mara.”
    “And, you know, I can sleep over, Zadie,” Naomi said. “I mean, obviously not every night. But as often as I can.”
    “Thanks, Naomi.” I smiled. But inside I was worried about Naomi’s safety. If I couldn’t be held accountable for my actions, who was to say Naomi could sleep in my room and not be harmed?
    “And I can keep an eye out too.” Gavin stepped forward and pushed a strand of hair away from my face. “I’ve