Page 153

I let the pigeon return without a message. The rest is up to me.

“What’s wrong?”

I jump, yelp, and spin, all at once.

Fliora lets out a giggle. It’s the first time she’s truly seemed like a child, and despite my current situation, I attempt a smile. “You need to learn to make some noise.”

She grins at me. “Eamonn has been teaching me to spy.”

I search for any sign of him. “Is he here?”

“Nope.”

“Then I need you to listen to me.”

Fliora’s grin disappears at my intent tone, and I lean close, lowering my voice to a whisper. “I need you to make your way to the dock.” I press a few coins into her hand. “Get yourself something to eat. You’ll see a small bench next to a tailor’s shop. Sit on that bench and stay there.”

Her lower lip trembles. “Why?”

“I need you to trust me.”

Slowly, she nods. “You trusted me enough to take that tonic. So I’ll trust you too. But Madinia…you should know something. It was Eamonn who found me and encouraged me to follow my aunt. He was the one who told me to steal the tonic.”

I file this information away. It’s not unexpected.

“I’ll see you soon.”

Fliora darts out of the stable, and I make my way toward the front of the inn. Hopefully, the innkeeper will know someone who will let me borrow a horse for a few hours.

Eamonn trots toward me in his dog form. “Calysian took your horse?”

“Yes. I won’t be able to catch him now.”

“Yes you will.” Eamonn backs away, and within a blink, he’s a huge, white stallion.

I stare. “I thought larger forms were more difficult for you to hold.”

“They are. But I can hold it long enough for you to get to Calysian. Now let’s go.” He sidesteps until he’s next to the fence, and I climb onto his back.

“I should have told Calysian who I am to him.”

“You did more for him by merely being with him last night.”

A strange sense of awareness slides through me, and suddenly I can sense Calysian in my mind. My heart leaps into my throat. “What is happening?”

Eamonn turns, making his way toward the road. “You opened yourself to your soulmate last night. There’s a link between you now. You must have seen the symbols on your back.”

Fury burns through me. “You told me to be with him. Did you know this would happen?”

“I watched when you arrived yesterday. I saw the way Calysian looked at you. The way he touched you.”

“That sounds like a yes,” I hiss. “Who gave you the right to play with my life? To manipulate me like this?”

“Would you like to argue about it or find him?”

I grind my teeth. “We will talk about this later.”

Eamonn sighs. “Think of Calysian’s face. Picture him in your mind. Think about the way he stands, the way he moves, the sound of his voice.”