“Euralysia is an acceptable choice.”
“She’s also a powerful sorceress. She’s manipulating you.”
He laughed. He didn’t believe me. Figures.
“Are you sure she loves you?”
“Love is not the most important factor in a relationship like ours. We enjoy being in one another’s presence. We communicate effectively. We both count ourselves fortunate. In my situation, would you choose someone else?” he asked.
I hadn’t thought of it. Would I condemn two nations to war just because I wasn’t able to marry someone I wasn’t head-over-heels in love with? He said they got along, what more could he ask for?
“I suppose not.”
“I don’t have a choice. But you do.”
Since when had he become my therapist?
“I’m happy with my choice.” My voice sounded flat. I hadn’t meant it to.
“Why do you choose to stay with him?”
His question made me pause.
Because he’s normal and I’m not. Because my mother likes him. Because, in her opinion, he’s the only good choice I’ve ever made. Because I need stability in my life.
None of those answers were good ones. Still, I liked Brent. Probably didn’t love him, though. “All right, you’ve got me. I don’t have a good reason to stay with him. Why do you think I do?” I was a fool for asking it. I should have kept my mouth shut.
He leaned closer. If I looked up, I’d have to look into his eyes. I didn’t want to.
“Because he doesn’t love you.”
What? Of course he loved me. Why on earth would he stick with me if he didn’t? What was love, anyway, except caring for the person you’re with? He did love me. Kull was absolutely wrong.
“He doesn’t love me.” Saying it out loud rang with truth, as if church bells pealed when I said it.
No. No! Why was I thinking like this? If Brent didn’t love me, then where did that leave me? What did that mean for my future? It meant my mother was right, that I’d spend the rest of my days alone in my tiny apartment. At least I had Han. He had a good ten years left.
No—I refused to let my thoughts go there. It made me feel frightened, and most of all, alone. “You’re wrong. You don’t know Brent. You don’t even know me.”
“I know when I see indifference. And I know when I see attraction.” His eyes simmered like two stars caught in a storm cloud. They would’ve burned a hole through me had I held his gaze.
“Drop it,” I told him. “I don’t want your advice. You’re marrying someone you don’t know—don’t even realize how dangerous she is. Leave me alone.”
He dipped his head in a courteous gesture. He didn’t say anything, but the smoldering look in his eyes told me he wasn’t done with me.
My heart pounded. Sweat beaded on my neck. I wished he would go away, but I was stuck with him for another day at least.
Kull rose.
“Where are you going?” I asked.
He turned. “As you said, humans in this world aren’t skilled trackers. Fortunately, you brought one with you.” He smiled and walked away.
I unclenched my fists, only now realizing that I’d been pressing my fingernails into the palms of my hands. I attempted a deep, cleansing breath. I still didn’t know what to make of Kull. At times, I felt ready to kill him. Other times, I wanted to kiss him.
The ping of the elevator announced its arrival, and Kull disappeared inside. I mulled over our conversation.
Because he doesn’t love you.
Rubbish. He didn’t know me. He wasn’t a trained counselor. Still, his words rang with truth whether I wanted to accept them or not.
To prove him wrong, I grabbed my cell out of my pocket and dialed Brent. Maybe Brent didn’t love me, but maybe it was my own fault.
It rang several times and then clicked over to voicemail. Brent’s recorded voice came over the line, followed by a beep.
“Hey, it’s me. I’m ready to take you up on that date. Love you.”
I hung up before I said anything else I’d regret.
Chapter 27
I made two more phone calls after I dialed Brent—one to Dr. Hill, and another to the foster home. Neither one answered. Strange, especially for Dr. Hill. Unless he was deathly ill or abducted by aliens, I couldn’t imagine any reason he wouldn’t pick up. He was like a machine. The guy never slept. Then again, maybe he was with a patient. Albert Einstein reminded me to always think of the simplest solutions first.
Still, I couldn’t understand why he hadn’t called me about Jeremiah. After this Sissy drama was over, assuming Kull could find her, I knew where to go next.
I made my way to the main lobby on the first floor. Afternoon sunlight spilled through the giant glass walls, painting shades of amber across the granite tiles. People came and went, their footsteps echoing through the domed room.
I closed my eyes. Sunlight warmed my face. Weary and bone tired, I tried to pull it together. So much needed to be done. So much still didn’t make sense. I wished the universe would drop a giant compass in my lap that pointed to Find Jeremiah’s Dreamsoul Here. Or perhaps a yellow-brick road would appear. At this point, I’d take any clue I could get.
Yells broke up my thoughts as several security guards rushed through the lobby. Behind the large marble pillars, there was a commotion. I had trouble seeing it, but from the high-pitched screeches, I had a pretty good idea what was happening.
I made my way around the pillars to find Sissy held in a bear hug by an unusually calm-looking Wult warrior. She thrashed her head back and knocked him square in the chest. Kull didn’t flinch. Sissy, however, let out a scream loud enough to rattle glass.
“Let her go!” one of the security guards yelled. He pulled out a baton.
Kull raised an eyebrow at the weapon. “I believe you are looking for her,” Kull answered. He lifted her head so they could see her face.
The
