Page 22 of Hallows End
“I know you,” I whisper against her lips. “And I trust you.”
“How do I contact you?” she asks with a trembling breath. “Obviously, there wasn’t cell service three hundred years ago.”
“No.” I lick my lips, still tasting her there. “There’s a way, but we should be in the safety of your garden.”
“Let’s go.”
ChapterFive
Lucy
We step inside my garden and close the gate behind us. Nera climbs the steps to the porch and sits, waiting patiently as if he understands that he’s not part of this conversation.
“First of all, this spell isn’t for everyone,” Jonas warns me as he takes my hand, and I turn toward him. “Some consider it quite invasive.”
“What do you mean?”
“We’ll be able to hear each other’s thoughts,” he says, raising his eyebrows. “Not only can we speak to each other telepathically, but you’ll be able to hear what I’m thinking, dreaming, etcetera.”
“And you’ll hear mine,” I add thoughtfully. Jonas nods slowly, watching me closely. “What if I want to surprise you with something? Or don’t want you to know how handsome I think you are because you’ll get a big head? Can I block a thought?”
He chuckles at that and squeezes my hand. “No, I think I want in on those thoughts of yours.” He sobers. “You can ask me to temporarily close the connection if you need some privacy, and I’ll respect your wishes, Luciana. This link is intensely personal.”
“Have you done it before?” I ask before I can stop the words from coming out of my mouth.
“No.” He reaches up and brushes at something under my eye with his thumb, and his touch sends a shiver through me. “My parents had the link open from the day they took their vows. I learned the spell from them but have never had a need to use it with anyone.”
“You know, I’m not usually a jealous woman. I don’t know why—”
“It’s different,” he says, interrupting the apology. “This is different. And there’s no need to be sorry for that. I won’t ask about your romantic past, Lucy.”
“It’s kind of boring, to be honest.” I grin at him, relieved when he answers with a smile of his own. “Okay, so it’ll be a little intense. But it’s the only way for me to reach you. I can’t text you.”
“If you want to close the tether permanently at any time, all you have to do is say so. It will immediately break the spell. Nothing extra needed.”
“Good to know.” I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I’m ready when you are.”
“Just repeat after me,” he says, keeping his intense gaze pinned to mine.
With harm to none, blessings to all, we cast this spell, this is our call.
Across time and space, our minds become one, tethered together under moon as in sun.
Your thoughts will be mine, my dreams become yours, within arm’s reach as on distant shores.
Choices remain, for me and for thee,
As I will it, so mote it be.
Testing, one two three, I say without speaking and watch his face light up with a smile.
It worked, he says.
Good.“You know I’m going to try this out later, right? I’llcallyou.”
Jonas laughs and leans in to kiss my cheek and then my forehead. “I look forward to it. What are your plans for the day?”
“I have a lot of work to do. Delia, my part-time helper, is coming in around noon to help me get some new products on the shelves. I have some calls to make. And you? What do you do in 1692?”