The Soul Mate by Madeline Sheehan Read Free Book Online

eternity grieving him in the form of a monster, killing
innocent people as a result.”
    Simza nodded slowly, smiling, “It’s like dark
magi-
    “Sim!” Aishe yelled. The warning in Simza’s
mother’s voice was clear. The little girl shut her mouth, gave me a
small smile and took off toward her mother.
    Aishe couldn’t have been anymore obvious. I
was an outsider, an interloper, a Gaje. To speak of magic in front
of me was forbidden. Between learning that Gerik’s on again/off
again relationship with Onyx was definitely on and once again being
called out as a Gaje in front of the entire clan, I suddenly didn’t
feel much like being social.
    The start of the music was a happy reprieve
from my dark thoughts. A heavy drum beat had begun and the clan
whooped with delight. Intrigued I headed toward where the crowd had
gathered. Drums had never been used at fire dances since I’d been
at camp.
    The immergence of two male figures, both
wrapped in bear furs complete with the bear head that concealed
their identities, was a fearsome sight. Their beady eyes,
formidable fangs and sharp claws cast menacing shadows from the
firelight.
    As the two men began to dance, heads down,
feet pounding and bodies swinging, so did the clan, stomping their
feet and clapping their hands along with the resounding thunder of
the drums.
    The bear’s movements were starkly different
and yet somehow in sync with each other. It reminded me of
something Native American.
    There was a natural energy forming around
them. Their movements were electric and the rhythm was addicting.
You couldn’t help but be affected by it.
    I didn’t even notice Drina standing beside
me. She nodded toward the dancers, her expression one of admiration
and also sadness. “Beautiful isn’t it?”
    I wasn’t sure beautiful was the word I would
use to describe it. Beautiful seemed far too tame a description. It
was awesome, ferocious and unique.
    It was downright seducing.
    “So you’re a bear dancer.” I teased, finding
Xan leaned up against a tree, expertly juggling his giant bear
headed fur and a bottle of gin while smoking a cigarette. His face
was swollen mass of blue and purple.
    “You looked pretty into it,” He murmured.
    “It was cool,” I admitted, a blush creeping
up my neck. “I’d never seen anything like it. So, who was the other
dancer?”
    “Tobar.” He said on a big exhale of
smoke.
    “Tobar! Quiet, introverted Tobar!”
    Xan shot me an amused glance. “One and the
same, although he’s not so introverted as all that, just ask
Becki.”
    Becki?
    “My father taught us. He’s a Blackfoot
Indian. Or half anyway.”
    “Truly impressive heritage,” I said,
genuinely meaning it.
    “It is what it is.” He took another swig of
his gin. “At least the asshole gave me something before he took
off.” He gestured to the bear skin.
    “You miss him,” I guessed.
    Xan’s dark eyes bored into me. “Not so much
anymore. He’s been gone for twenty years.” He took another drag off
his cigarette and offered it to me.
    “Now I’m just kinda pissed he left me
somewhere I don’t really belong. I’m a goddamn mechanic in a clan
of some of the most powerful Roma in the world.” He looked down and
snorted.
    I could identify. I didn’t belong here
either. The fire meeting tonight had, once again, painfully driven
that stake a just a little deeper.
    Even Gerik, who claimed to care for me and
desire me, still wouldn’t share so many things with me. Things I
knew he could easily share with Onyx, a fellow Roma. I had to
question how anything between us could ever be real when a wall of
secrets would always lay smack in the middle.
    “See you later fată.” Xan nodded at Gerik,
who had wandered over to us and was watching me curiously. Probably
wondering why I had been avoiding him the entire day. No bruises
marred his perfect face. A whisper of pity for Xan slithered
through me. Gerik won everything, got everything he wanted.
    “Frate,” Xan said