Silence: Part Two of Echoes & Silence by A.M Hudson Read Free Book Online Page B

protect you like I will.”
    I cupped my hands over the bump, wondering if I should tell Falcon she was born to the wrong knight—that if Drake learned that while I was under his protection, Walter and his House would seem like a picnic compared to what I’d be made to suffer. “If Drake comes into this, people will ask questions, and—”
    “What, you think they’ll deduce that you’re carrying Drake’s beloved ex-wife’s reincarnation?”
    “Yes!”
    He laughed, but it changed on the end to a more sardonic scoff. “Well, it’s better than having them brutalise you.”
    I looked away from his round eyes, toying with the hem of my shirt. “You don’t really think they’ll use the Pear of Anguish, do you?”
    An image flashed in his mind—of me, my legs spread and bound, while the Punisher inserted a metal object inside me. “I will die before I let them do that to you.”
    “Then I guess you’re right,” I said, marching to my dresser to grab my phone. “We need to call Drake. Because I won’t let you die for me.”
    His hand appeared over mine, stopping the call. “Let me meet with the House first. Blade and I will make a case and see if we can get a lesser punishment.”
    I lowered the phone. “How lesser?”
    He shrugged. “They may be willing to leave it at a few lashings—”
    “Falcon!”
    “The baby can survive that, Ara. So can you. And you’ll be reinstated as queen immediately after. It’s the best we can hope for.”
    My thumb moved over the call button and hovered there. “I’d like to think they’d leave the entire thing alone until I’ve had the baby.”
    “If they do, you’re in a cell and we’re without a queen for a few months.” He nodded to my rather small belly. “An example has to be set, by law. There’s no getting around that now.”
    I laid my hand to his arm. “Go then. See if Blade’s had any luck with the scrolls and that fine-toothed comb.”
    Falcon bowed. “I’ll return within the hour, my queen.”
    “Good luck,” I called as he shut the door.
     
    ***
     
    To be a fly on the wall in that room. Then again, even a soul on the wall would do.
    Being born without a soul had its advantages. I’d never tried it before now, but my ability to walk without a body wasn’t tied purely to moments of unconsciousness. I could travel at will. I’d just never attempted it before and had no idea how.
    I removed my talisman and laid on my bed, my hands gathered over my belly, unsure if anything would happen. Even if it did, I wasn’t sure what exactly my plan was. I just needed to see what was happening; too much time had passed and no word had come.
    “Focus. Focus. Focus…” I whispered to myself, making the glass dome above my bed go out of focus. When there were two of them, I shut my eyes and unwound each muscle in my body individually, starting with my toes, then my calves, moving the relaxation up into my knees and thighs, letting it warm my spine and my arms and finally, brought it over my head and shoulders like a tepid wave. I imagined my body swelling and shrinking—imagined it blue and shadowy, and as a hot sensation went through my core, my eyes flicked open and I saw myself laying on the bed.
    My heart skipped a nearly audible beat then. I sat up suddenly in my human form, though, taking a giant breath.
    “I did it.” I laughed, bunching my hands excitedly, then laid down again and took myself through the same process as before. It took a little longer this time, but when I saw my body underneath me again, I quickly switched focus to random objects around the room—avoiding the reality of my soul being outside my body.
    Without a human form to ground me, I wasn’t really sure where to go. I could feel a memory on the tip of my proverbial tongue, but I just couldn’t recall it—couldn’t find the place I was supposed to be. I knew I needed Falcon, but I couldn’t feel for his energies without my Cerulean body either. Also, the door was