Page 3 of Total Lunar Eclipse

“I want to give you something.”

Not really the answer I am looking for, but I’m torn between needing answers and getting a gift. I mean, I like gifts, so enough said.

“What is it?”

“I have this theory,” he murmurs distractedly.

“Dude! What is going on?!”

A charming, crooked smile graces his mouth, “I don’t think I’ve been ‘duded’ in all my centuries of living.”

“You grew up on an island and were never ‘duded’?!”

He chuckles, “Not that I can recall. I’ve gotten ‘bruh’ pretty liberally though.”

“Okbruh, I don’t really know where to go from here. . . my gift or your theory. . .”

“They’re entwined.”

CHAPTER 2

JUPITER

“Can we soul-bond?” she suddenly asks me.

I feel my whole face twist into a grimace.

“Why?”

“So I can know what you’re thinking and save us the hassle of this conversation that is going nowhere.”

“You don’t just soul-bond for convenience,lahela’iki, it’s formed out of love.”

“What if I already love you?”

My heart stops beating.

“You don’t,” I respond with absolute assurance.

She goes to speak, but I cut her off, “Or you won’t. Trust me. Let’s get back to my theory. And giving you something.”

The disappointment on her face guts me. I know she thinks I am rejecting her, but we can’t form a bond.

Not now.

Not with the choices I have made.

But it was for the greater good.

For her and my brothers.

I just hope she sees it that way. . .

She sighs sadly. The news about Sunny and my refusal to soul-bond weigh her down.

“I’ve been thinking for a while. . . since I felt Sunny transfer his power to you. What would happen if we could expand that power? Ifyoucould expand it, that is. And if you had more.”

“Still not following you one hundred percent. Not even like thirty percent.”