Page 49

WINNOW

M y eyes devour the sight of Gideon’s pastures, filled with wildflowers and tall grasses.

A feeling I can only describe as kismet crashes over me as I realize how I used to fantasize about this very image, this freedom, from the Paltorian prison cell.

It causes a knot of emotion to build in my chest. The only difference is the kaleidoscope of butterflies ranging from all white to bright blue to orange and black dancing in the air.

Trigger immediately shoots off to chase them as soon as we descend his porch steps.

Gideon pauses beside me.

“How are there so many of them?”

Gideon smiles. “Milkweed, Sassafras, and Spicebush. Levi planted a load of it on his section of the property to help repopulate the area.”

My brows leap. A peculiar interest for a former warrior.

“You said he’s one of your old military friends?”

He chuckles. “Yep. You’d never guess by looking at him, but since he moved here the man’s earned the nickname ‘Bee Whisperer’. He’s got a load of hives and never bothers with any protective gear. I don’t think he’s once been stung.”

I’ve yet to meet him, but already he’s earned my respect.

Gideon presses a kiss to the top of my head as he tugs me along. The moment I step onto the field to head toward Gideon’s barn, a familiar sensation hums to life inside of me. Something I’ve missed like an absent limb.

Magic.

I can feel it zinging into me like electricity from beneath the boots Gideon gifted me.

I’m dressed in a pair of jeans and a long-sleeve t-shirt of his that has his ranch logo on it: the words, Kincaid Cattle & Agricultural Reserve, sandwiched between an illustrated outline of a mountain range and the head of a longhorn.

Tears fill my eyes at the sensation of this realm’s magic humming beneath me–buried within the land and all that grows from it–and I can’t help but toe off my boots and socks to bury my feet in the grass.

I’d nearly grown used to being so disconnected to my own magic by simply residing in this realm, and it’s a heart-rending relief to feel these tendrils of Akash’s power, reminding me of my true nature.

The true nature of us all, mortal and immortal alike–little seedlings of the divine planted with karmic purpose throughout the womb of reality.

And whatever else I can’t even begin to fathom.

Gideon stops in his tracks as he sees me drop to my knees and sit back on my heels so I can weave my fingers through the grass.

He remains quiet next to me for a moment—perhaps through our tether, he can intuitively sense I need this even though my hair is a curtain hiding my emotion.

“Meet you at the barn in a few minutes?”

Gideon takes a knee beside me, stroking my hair. “Of course, baby girl. Whenever you’re ready. Take your time.”

Pressing a kiss to my hair, he hesitates.

“You alright, angel?”

For the first time in my life, I’m completely unafraid to show my emotions.

My heart.

Turning my face toward his as happy tears stream down my cheeks, I smile.

“I honestly don’t think I’ve ever been better.”