Two Halves Series by Marta Szemik Read Free Book Online

I had no will to silence them.
    “Give him some time,” I heard Eric say. The strength of my voice vanished, and I couldn’t even ask him to be quiet, because that would be taking away the freedom he had, as mine was about to be taken away.
    “It’s been fourteen hours. This is killing him.” Mira felt my pain, as I always felt hers.
    “He just needs time—more than a day or two. Once he’s marked, his priorities will shift. He’ll understand his destiny.” Eric’s footsteps mimicked Mira’s. I imagined him wrap his arms around my sister from behind.
    “It’s not fair. Can’t you do something?”
    “It’s not the right time yet.”
    “What does that mean, not the right time?” I could mentally see my sister throwing her hands up, huffing at lover boy.
    My insides twisted, knowing that my feelings affected her, but I couldn’t control the void inside me. It would never fill again, never leap with happiness the way it had with Xela. It wasn’t my intention to upset Mira, but there was no other way.
    “That it’s not the right time. That’s all I know.”
    She knocked on my door. “Let me in, Xander.”
    “It’s open,” I mumbled.
    Mira entered and dropped to sit cross-legged in front of me. My pain reflected in her face. My green shading hadn’t faded yet. “Talk to me,” she demanded.
    “I’m in love with a witch.” I sighed and rested my head against the wall. Xela was the only one on my mind, her rosy scent covering every inch of my body, the only topic I wanted to talk about.
    “Okay.” Mira’s face smoothed.
    “A black witch.”
    “I know.” She took my hand in hers. “Can I do anything?”
    I shrugged. “Get the sphere mark?”
    “I’ll do it for you.”
    “I know you would.” I exhaled. “But it’s not something I can ask of you.”
    “Run with me?”
    My brows rose voluntarily. Running made us free. When the wind connected to our bodies, all nerves awoke. It was the only time we could be ourselves, even at a time we didn’t know who we were. We hadn’t done this in a while. Like an expectant kid hearing an ice cream truck, I felt my pulse speed as excitement spread. As the fastest creatures on earth, we were untouchable, though we never ran away from a challenge.
    “Now?”
    “Come on, you moper .” Mira punched me in the arm. “I bet you can’t catch me.” She punched again. Only my sister knew how to motivate me: challenge.
    “Oh, you’re gonna regret that one.” I pushed off the floor.
    “If you can catch me.” She darted out of the room, then out of the hill.
    I followed, seeing Eric roll his eyes on my way out.
    Because of her head start, there was no way I could make up the distance between us since our maximum speeds were identical and she pushed her feet to the limit. All I could do was follow. We headed north. Branches began slapping my arms as the familiar forest track narrowed. I shifted, toughening my skin so it wouldn’t tear. The cuts would heal in seconds, but I much preferred to concentrate on my speed. Mira was right: running, was exactly what I needed. It kept my focus away from Xela.
    Xela . My hand flew to my pocket where the white gem nestled. Then I remembered my promise . . . and that my promise was sound. How could I have agreed not to see her again? Didn’t that contradict my earlier oath to come back? I desperately sought a loophole that would allow me to break my pledge to Xela. I shouldn’t have promised not to see her. But I recalled Xela’s pain; my pledge had been the only thing I could say to take the ache away. What I’d said was impulsive, but I had to keep my word.
    Realizing Mira had stopped, I froze in mid-step twenty feet behind her. For the first time, I’d realized where she brought us. She stood by the tree where Ma had found us, where the keepers had sent us to learn about who we were.
    I wondered what had happened to the shape-shifters who bore the sphere. Did they all join Aseret? What about those who had