Page 35 of Spirit Rites

“So, here’s the big question. Are you sure you want to go to his kingdom? You don’t have to, you know. You can stay here with Rysden and me.” Farrah’s voice is full of compassion, and it almost undoes me.

“I gave him my word that I would go.”

“Were you in your right mind when you gave him your word?” Harper asks dryly.

“Well, actually, he was sort of dying. I mean I really thought he was going to.”

“Kinsley,” Farrah starts, but I interrupt her.

“But I need to.”

“Why?” she asks.

“Because whether it’s now or later, it’s going to happen. Our jaguars are mated; we’re intertwined whether we want to be or not.”

Chapter 18

“And you don’t want to be?” Farrah asks quietly.

I take a moment to answer. “I like Kaldar a lot; he’s a good man. He didn’t have to come into the Rites with me, but he did. And he protected me over and over again.”

“Just because he’s a good man doesn’t mean you’re ready to become his queen,” Farrah says.

I nod becausethatright there is where it’s at. “Yeah.” I feel like I’m admitting defeat.

“Just don’t go,” Harper says, as if it’s the easiest thing in the world.

I take a deep breath and steel my emotions. “I already committed to going. I’m going, and I’m going to make the best of it.”

“I think you’re off your rocker.”

“Harper!” Farrah scolds.

Harper shrugs. “I do. Nobody just uproots their life and goes to a foreign kingdom to start a life there just because—Okay, yeah, I get it. Farrah did that, and it all worked out. But this is Kinsley we’re talking about.”

“What? And it won’t work for me?” I challenge her.

“You’re just not as level-headed as Farrah. You’ll let your soft heart guide you, and that could get you into trouble.”

“I don’t know,” Farrah says thoughtfully. “She made it through the Trials and then the Rites. You might be underestimating her.”

I beam at Farrah. “I knew you were my friend.” I turn a scowl on Harper. “You are no longer my friend.”

Harper just grins. “Whatever. You know you love me.”

I don’t argue with her because I really do. “I don’t know how to explain it, but I have to do this. I have to go with Kaldar to his kingdom. Maybe it will be terrible; maybe I’ll hate it, but...” my words trail off.

“You’ll always wonder,” Farrah says with eyes that look suspiciously moist. “You will always wonder what would have happened if you went with him.”

I nod and swallow around the lump in my throat. “Yeah.”

Farrah takes a deep breath. “I don’t like it, but I get it.” She stands up and walks over to me, stopping just a few inches from me. “Then let’s get you packed and ready.”

Relief flows through me. “Thank you for understanding.”

“The connection between you is pretty hard to ignore, isn’t it?” I nod. “It will only get stronger.” She puts her hands on my shoulders. “I want you to be happy, and if that’s going with Kaldar,” her voice breaks a moment, but she recovers quickly. “Then that’s what I want for you. Just know that you always have a place here if you should ever need it.”

“Thank you, Farrah.” I hug her tightly. “You’ve become such a great friend. Thank you for everything.”