Page 48 of Treasured

I couldn’t see the Tether, but I felt her as though she had invaded every part of my body, from the air I breathed to the dark magic in my soul.

A flash of bright light appeared. A brilliant form bathed in sunlight moved towards me, pushing the shadows and darkness aside.

Sebastian? Even in this strange place of power, I recognized Luna immediately. Only, she wasn’t speaking. Not really. The words were more of a feeling, a sense that filled me with a rightness as they danced through my mind.

Luna? I moved towards the sunlight. It didn’t sear my flesh. It just… was. Can you hear me?

A pause, then the light brightened. Yes.

That same light flickered like a candle in the wind, and then it disappeared. Moments later, an audible gasp filled my ears.

I opened my eyes and found Luna staring at me. She wasn’t speaking, her mouth opening and closing like a dying fish. She appeared to be in shock. Squeezing her fingers, I tilted my head. “Did you… hear me?”

“I did. It wasn’t just your voice, though.” She pressed her head against my chest and hugged me tightly. Her wings brushed against mine, and warmth ran through me. “I felt you, Sebastian.”

Her experience mirrored my own. We might not have soul shared again, but there was no doubt in my mind we had just forged a new connection.

My heart pounded. What did this mean, and how could we use it to fight against the queen?

“Can you still feel me?” I asked.

Luna released my hand and moved back. “I can.” She eyed me. “Can you?”

“Yes.” Even though we weren’t touching, her essence danced over me.

“I want to try something.”

Of course she did. Luna adored experiments.

I said, “Anything for you.”

There were very few limits on what I wouldn’t do for her. As long as she was safe, I was willing to go along with just about anything she wanted. Some might have called me soft, but there was a strength in being willing to do anything for one’s partner.

Luna smiled and stepped away, drawing her wings into her. Shadows slid from her hands, writhing around her in a cloak of darkness. She closed her eyes. Moments later, I felt her presence brush up against my mind.

Sebastian?

I jolted. Luna stood several feet in front of me, but it felt like we were touching. Phantom brushes, light at first but more insistent, trailed down my arm.

I hear you, darling, was my response.

Luna’s eyes opened, and excitement flickered across her face. “It’s not soul sharing, but it’s… more.”

“It is,” I agreed.

“Do you know what this means, Sebastian?”

“What?”

“It means we get to conduct research.” Her eyes twinkled, and she grinned. “Just think about it. There’s so much to do! What exactly does this mean? What are the limitations? How far does the telepathy stretch?” Luna’s voice grew louder with every word as pure delight coursed through the bond.

“It’ll be—”

“Fun,” she exclaimed, interrupting me. “I can’t wait.”

“What about the soul sharing?”

Luna shrugged. “There must be a reason it didn’t work. Maybe we need to be in a more stressful, life-threatening situation. I’m sure we could simulate—”