Page 70 of The Spider Queen

You live in this historic, beautiful city, and you’ve hardly lived. Why?

I don’t know, Thane,I grumbled.Maybe because I’m studying my butt off?

There’s more to life than studying.

Yes, I know.

Do you? I guess I never realized…

What?

We all live in our own little prisons, don’t we?

My life is not a—why are you judging me?

No judgment. Just an observation. There’s more to life than studying and worrying about grades.Don’t squander your time.

Not that it’s any of your business, but did you ever think that I was waiting for something to pull me out of my orderly life?

No, I didn’t. And frankly, you shouldn’t have waited for anyone or anything to do that. You should’ve done it on your own.

How dare you lecture me on my choices!

You don’t get it!He blasted back.You’re too special, too incredible to be hiding in the library, head in your books. That’s not living. That’s all I meant, all right?

My anger diffused. I knew what he was saying was true—my life had been passing me by. All I had to show for the last few years were academic accolades and accomplished tasks. But I’d found Hunter, and he was showing me what I’d been missing.

You ready to see Charleston?

Let’s go!

Chapter 24

The weather was gorgeous. Crisp air cleared my head, and I felt better than I had in a long time…despite the fact that there was a large spider stowing away on my backpack and that I was mentally conversing with it.

We spent the day downtown. It turned out there was enough to see and do and I took my time. I wandered down side streets, I took pictures of gorgeous houses and gardens, and then I ate fried chicken and okra, which Thane mocked me for.

Life was weird.

As the sun set, I headed home, but at the last moment, I turned up Queen Street and passed my favorite blue house. It was cozy because it had once been a carriage house. When I dreamed of living alone, I dreamed of a cute, quaint place with wooden shelves in the kitchen, a wood burning fire place, a bedroom with a white bed, sunlight streaming in through the window. Maybe a cat, lazing in a patch of sunlight.

Nice vision,Thane said, startling me.

You could see that?

Yes.

How?

He paused, and I was afraid he wasn’t going to answer, but he surprised me.Think of it like a computer screen share situation,he suggested.I can see things through your eyes if you let me.

I didn’t even know I was letting you…and that wasn’t real. What I showed you was a fantasy for the future, nothing more.

Apparently you felt strongly enough about it that you projected it to me.

I thought for a moment.Wait? Is that how you saw the painting on the building?

No. That was you taking a mental picture and sending it to me.