Chapter 16

Linh's breathing was unsteady as Dex kept his intense gaze focused on her. She had not entirely expected him to kiss her. In fact... not at all. Not one bit... but the fact that he had kissed her on her cheek would not leave Linh alone. Not with Dex staring at her like that. Not with how Tam had disappeared with Biana.

Dex stepped closer. "Linh... I know it wasn't part of the plan, but... I thought it would..."

"Would what?" Linh said softly. "It worked, didn't it?"

Dex smiled sadly. "It did, didn't it? Our plan worked, Linh. It really did work."

Linh's almost smile faltered as she realized the key detail they had been forgetting. "Dex! I was going to follow them," Linh exclaimed. "I can't now."

Dex stared at her blankly for a moment, but then he managed to understand and said, "I might've slipped a tracking device on Biana... and I know where they are..."

"Wait, really!? Dex!! You're a lifesaver!" Linh said joyously as Dex managed to flash a smile at her. He carefully changed the facets of his pathfinder and handed it to Linh.

"You can use my pathfinder," Dex offered.

Linh tried to muffle a squeal as she took the pathfinder from Dex. "Thank you, Dex. I don't know what I would do without you," Linh told him as she held the pathfinder up to the light.

Weakly, Dex waved goodbye to Linh, watching her be whisked away by the ray of light. Letting out a frustrated sigh, he let himself sink to the ground in agony. What was he letting himself get into? Linh liked Wylie. Not Dex. Not himself. He was digging himself a hole. Dex already knew he had lost his chance with Biana. There was no way Tam was going to let him near Biana now. Seeing Tam with Biana was seeing a sick puppy getting better. It was happy. It was joyful. Tam needed Biana. He needed someone to stop him from being so gloomy and overbearing all the time. Dex could still see Tam's reaction to learning Biana was there in his mind. Oh... how great that had been. Now... Dex needed to think. He needed to sit and figure out what he was going to do. He needed to make a plan. He needed to know what his feelings were and who he wanted. Dex just wished the whole dating and clue thing could be over. All he wanted was his soulmate. He wanted his soulmate right by him. He didn't want to have to go through all finding them. Why did it have to be this way?

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Tam gasped when he realized where they were, or rather what they were on.

Biana smiled as their eyes met. "Do you like it?" she asked in a small voice.

Tam nodded. "The beach though? We're at a beach?" he said in astonishment. Sandy shores stretched as far as Tam could see, and in the other direction, a bright, blue ocean shined. Tam hadn't seen the ocean from this view before. Because of Linh's powers and the uncertainty of her control, they had never managed to take a venture to a beach by one of the great oceans. The view stunned him. Tam couldn't get over the beauty of the ocean and its surroundings. When he realized Biana hadn't responded yet, Tam turned his head away from the view and glanced at Biana.

She was staring at him with a strange look in her eyes. Biana nodded at the ocean and slipped her fingers into his. "I knew you'd love it here," Biana whispered.

Tam laughed softly. "How did you know?"

With a shrug, Biana said, "Well, I just sort of figured, because Linh's powers and how you two were in hiding... basically."

After a minute, Tam responded. "I guess you could say that. It was unsafe to bring Linh bear larger bodies of water at that time. I knew she would have loved to go see the ocean or one of the bigger lakes, but I couldn't. Her safety and life was more important." He swung his gaze to watch Biana. Her head leaned against his shoulder.

"I understand," Biana said with a sigh. "We all had our various challenges, and now I think more are coming our way."

"Like finding our soulmates?" Tam replied.

"Exactly."

Tam responded with an "I thought so."

Biana raised her head. "Tam?"

Tam glanced at her. "Yeah, Biana?"

"I'm glad I brought you here," Biana admitted. "I really am. It's so peaceful and calm. I feel more at ease with myself and my life. Do you feel it too?"

"I do..." Tam told her, trailing off.

"I guess... it took your mind off Linh for the time being," Biana said a triumphant grin.

"It did," Tam chuckled. "Think you're so smart now, don't you?"

"Hmmm, maybe I just have that effect on you," Biana muttered as she pulled away and held herself out to the wind. She laughed and spun around.

Tam just joined in her laughter. "Maybe I'll just let you think you do... for the fun of it."

"Or you want me to think that. Inside you do," Biana said a smirk. "And I can't say I mind that."

"Hmmm... or maybe you really do have that effect on me," Tam said softly. "Whenever I'm around you, I can't concentrate. My nerves are all jumpy. I get jittery. Then, I say and do dumb things by you."

Biana blushed and smiled bashfully. "I think it's cute," she managed to say, but kept her eyes on Tam's cape clasp.

"Oh..." Tam said as he turned away for a moment.

Biana looked up at him and whispered, "I knew there was more to you than you let on. You're so thoughtful."

Tam's mouth formed an 'o' shape and then responded, saying, "Not many people take the time to observe me. Most just think I'm edgy and not worth getting to know."

Biana laughed. "One could say they thought you were shady." Her laughter continued as Biana's gaze met his.

"Really? I think I've heard that before. Oh right, 'cause I'm a shade," Tam said playfully. His smile widened as he watched her intently. "I like spending time with you, Biana. I wish I could spend more time with you."

"I do too. Maybe... we can spend more time together..." Biana said, looking hopefully into his eyes.

"I'll try my best to make sure we do. I'm still slightly scared what Fitz would do if I brought it up," Tam said with a small grimace as he muttered the last couple words.

Biana giggled and said with a grin, "Oh, I'm sure he would just accidentally levitate and get stuck in the chandelier. That way, he wouldn't be able to tell you no."

"Okay, now that would be slightly terrifying and extremely funny," Tam chuckled.

A huge grin spread across Biana's face before her whole body was racked with laughter. "I really wish that would happen though," Biana said between laughs. "Last time, it was so funny. I think I probably called him Chandelier Head for a good while after that. Well... I do still call him Chandelier Head."

Tam joined her in laughing as he said, "I want to call him Chandelier Head too... but I am too fearful of Fitz cutting off my hair. I rather like my bangs and would like to keep them."

Together, the both of them laughed joyfully. "I love your bangs, Tam," Biana whispered. "They represent the goodness in you... the willingness to break free from a relationship that wasn't kind to you... your protectiveness and the watchful eye you keep over your sister. You're a good person, Tam. That's why I... like you..."

Tam froze as he heard those words come out of Biana's mouth. I... like you... She liked him? Biana liked him. Tam turned to Biana and noticed that she was now very still. She trembled slightly as Tam scooted closer to her. "I... like you... too, Biana," he whispered as he gently caressed her cheek with his hand. Tam leaned in and brought his lips close to her cheek as he prepared himself mentally to kiss Biana on the cheek. A loud shriek stopped Tam right in his tracks.

"OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! AHHHHHHHHHHH!!! MY BROTHER ALMOST KISSED SOMEONE! MY BROTHER ALMOST KISSED BIANA! AHHHH DEX NEEDS TO KNOW!" the screaming voice shouted wildly.

Author's Note: Hey everyone! I'm going to start putting Author's Notes at the end of each chapter, except in special cases where I might need one. (Ex: Warnings)

Art Credit for the Top Picture goes to Laura Hollingsworth. I love all the new art!

I'm so sorry for the huge break between chapters once again! My summer was incredibly busy this year with camps and everything I had to do. School has been back for over a month now, and I'm already super busy with homework and other stuff. I'm hoping to be able to update every once in a while. This does mean that the chapters will be a little shorter than they have been in the past. I hope that's okay! And what does everyone about me posting the bonus little story here in Soulmates? It would most likely be permanently at the end of everything. It also is a completely different story line and has nothing to do with Soulmates.

Thank you so much for reading! Feel free to leave a comment, vote, or add Soulmates to your reading lists!

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