Page 101 of The Heir

“The pull of this thing we share, this connection, Emma, it isn’t random. The Ancients created it for a purpose. Our souls havemelodies, and these melodies are a musical sketch of who we are—they are embedded inside us. If someone finds—” he paused for a moment as if re-thinking what he was about to say, “souls that connect like ours do, it means that they are for the other, literally, everything the other’s soul has ever wanted and ever needed. I wish I could explain it better, but we have little time.”

“So, I am your perfect match or something?”

He nodded and smiled.You are absolutely my perfect match.

I had never felt such happiness in my entire life. He kissed me again, his lips doing just what he said they would do, memorize mine. A thousand, a million kisses from him would never be enough. I wanted to live in that moment forever, take a picture and make it last and last and last. But pictures fade over time. They can become ruined or burned or lost.How does one hold onto something and never let it go? How does one never forget a perfect moment?His kisses kept electrocuting my skin, making my insides ignite again and again. I tried not to think about it, but I knew thatsoon this will end, and soon, I will be without him.

“Now, you know what being my best friend means to me.” His hands cradled my face as he spoke to me, “You can stop thinking all of those ridiculous thoughts now, because you will always be mine, and I will always be yours. No matter what happens, you are mine, darling, and I am yours. It is etched onto our very souls.”

I tried not to, but heat rose up in my cheeks. I should have known he could read me more than I realized through our bond, which meant he knew more of my feelings than I knew about his. But, I had a lingering thought, a question that wouldn’t be put aside, and it ached.

“You kiss me,now, Shad? You tell me all I have ever wanted to know,now?—Now that your brother will make you into some—Some melody-less zombie?”

“I didn’t want to become a Soulless without making sure you understood all that you mean to me. I will be greatly changed. I do not know how I will behave, and I want you to remember me likethis–thisis the true me.”

I smiled as tears still flowed down my cheeks, tears of happiness and tears of sadness mixed and mingled together.

“Tell me how to save you, please.”

“I don’t know if this will work, but it’s all I have,” he said leaning closer to me, moving hair out of my face.

“What is all you have?”

I will show you. There is little time to explain. I fear I kissed you too long.He kissed me one last time, his lips tenderly brushing my own. I felt his melody swirl around me, and his thoughts flooded my mind, swirling and churning inside of me. He was filtering his thoughts to find the exact memories he wanted to plant inside of me. I could tell what he was doing, and I was in awe of what was possible between us. I saw him, sitting somewhere at a desk, reading, as memory floated into me. But, before I could focus on the entire thing, I heard the metal door open and then a loud clap as someone entered the room. Shad let go of me, and as he did, I felt one single note from his melody linger with my own.

What is that?

That is hope, Emma. All the hope I can give you. I don’t know if it will work, but I know you can do anything. You are the other half of my soul. Don’t ever forget that. You have everything you need inside of you.

Shad, tell me what I need to do.He pulled me into his arms, and I heard Cade clear his throat.

“Well, aren’t you two just adorable.”

I ignored him.

Those memories should help you—If there is a chance that a Soulless can find their soul again—

“Let’s get on with this, brother. I don’t have all day.”

I watched in shock as Shad fixed the collar of his shirt and then moved to the cell’s door.

I reached for him one last time, kissing him with everything inside of me. His hands gripped my waist as he pulled me into him.

“I love you, Shad.” The tears continued to spill from my eyes, and I could not help them from falling. It was true—I loved him. I knew that I had been frightened, and I still was. I was so terrified after my parents died. I was frightened about losing Ryker and Mary someday, and I was also frightened right at that moment that I would lose Shad, but what is love without fear? What is love without being brave, even if you are not sure you can be brave? All I knew was that I loved him. I loved Shad, and I wanted him to know it.

“Emma, you do not have to say that–”

“It’s true, Shad. You know it’s true. I love you,” I replied. I sensed his doubt within our bond about my true feelings for him, thinking I was only saying it because I was desperate for him to stay, not to leave me. I was desperate and I was scared, but I was also helplessly and madly in love with Shadrict, the Prince from another realm, the Kingdom of Embra. It was scary but undeniably true.

“Say it again, Emma.” he whispered, closing his eyes, and I knew what he wanted.

I love you, Shad, and I always will. I touched his hair as I spoke inside his soul. I meant those three little words more than I had meant anything else I had ever said in my life. He slammed into me. It was as if a well had broken, and he was unable to control the rush of water flowing between us. His kiss was fierce, and I returned his kiss just as fiercely. There was an ache in it that our first kiss didn’t have, a roughness that spoke of need and longing and of unbelievable truths spoken and then realized.A goodbye of sorts, but–How? How could this be a goodbye when I need him, and I needed him closer, nearer. I didn’t want to ever let him go. How could I be without him? I loved him.

I know you must mean it, Emma. It is just too wonderful to be true, I think,he thought as he pulled away to look into my eyes to make sure that I was real, that he was really seeing me in his arms, that it wasn’t a dream.

No, not too wonderful, perfectly right,I said to him through our souls. Our chests rose and fell at a rapid rate, and it wasn’t until Shad was thrust backward and away from me, that I realized Cade had been yelling at us, and two of his guards had come over to take Shad away from me.

“Okay, let’s get on with it!” Cade’s voice roared, irritated in that damp cave. “You better not have bonded,” Cade snapped.