Seeing (Return of the Nine) by Viola Grace Read Free Book Online

find another quest to drive you. You cannot remain still.”
    Vida cocked her head. “You actually are getting satisfaction from that thought.”
    “Yes, I am. You have a difference from the women more often chosen by our community, and yet, you fit in perfectly.”
    “Do I?”
    S’rin took her hand. “Your aura calms when you enter the Balance area. Your mind clears and you smile a little. You already want to be there. With us, with me.”
    Vida sighed and placed her hand over his. “I do. I fight every day to keep myself calm, to keep my sight clear. In that one place, it comes to me effortlessly. I haven’t felt anything like that since before the Tokkel attacks.”
    “You can feel that every day if you agree to be mine for life.”
    She blinked. “Just like that?”
    “There is surety in my mind, just as there is in yours.” He kept his hand on hers.
    “How is it done?”
    “We go to the gardens and exchange blood for blood. We can return to your quarters for the night and make the announcement tomorrow, but we will have to bond on the same day that we mate for the first time.”
    She blinked and pulled her hands back. “Too fast. Ask me again tomorrow. I am still getting over having my bones overhauled.”
    He reclaimed one hand and pressed a kiss to her fingers. “I will accept that and I will ask you again tomorrow.”
     
    Ziggy escorted her to the Balance section the following morning and left her alone with S’rin.
    He ran a detailed exam on her with the scanner that Meevin had brought in. Her transformation was still underway, but she was getting stronger.
    Once the exam was over, she found a chair and pulled it over. She stood on it, flipped the hood of his robes back and kissed him, just to try it on for size.
    His arms snapped around her and held her tight to him until he was ready to release her.
    When she had finished her exploration and her head was spinning with energy that wasn’t all hers, she lifted her lips from his. He slowly opened his embrace and she braced herself on his shoulders as she stepped to the floor.
    “That is going to be hard on your neck, S’rin.” She smiled. He was a foot and a half taller than she was. It was going to be an adjustment for him.
    “I believe that the mating ceremony will let you meet me halfway.”
    It took her a moment to absorb what he meant. “You are kidding.”
    “No. Most Balance brides gain height as a side effect of the bonding process.”
    She blinked. “I just got clothing that fits me. I don’t know that I will be amenable to throwing that all away.”
    He stared at her in astonishment. “You would throw away a proper match because of clothing?”
    Vida looked at him with narrow eyes. “Do you know how hard it has been for me to keep myself fed and clothed over the last six years? Clothing that is new and that fits is definitely a consideration.”
    He sighed. “I will set you up with an account so that you can replace the clothing as needed. Now, would you like to hear my idea on how to see your family?”
    She blinked. “Fine, but we are going to revisit the clothing thing. I don’t take. I earn my own keep.”
    He grinned and flipped his hood up. “I expected nothing less. Now, come with me. We are heading to the projector.”
    He explained his theory as they walked through the Balance section until they reached a theatre.
    He led her to the centre of a huge room where a cushion was waiting on the floor. “Sit on the cushion and get comfortable. We are going to be there a while.”
    She followed his direction and sat with her legs loosely crossed. He sat behind her and once again wrapped around her. He poured energy into her until her skin was tingling.
    “Now, think of your parents and hold their image in your mind.”
    Vida pulled her memory of her parents’ energy patterns in toward her and held them tight.
    “Good. Now, extend your mind toward them, keeping your mind focussed.”
    “Should I close my eyes?”
    “Not