undo

"There is something wrong with Jessalynn."

"When is there not something wrong with Jessalynn?"

The look he gave the other guy promised retribution.

"She tried to poison me, excuse me if I am not on the Jessalynn band wagon right now."

"Frick, something is wrong with my mate."

He didn't know if it was his look or the fear in his voice that finally caught his friend's interest.

Frick looked her way for several long moments before turning to look at Julian. It would not be hard for Frick to see what he saw. Julian was scared. His eyes never left her.

"I wondered why we have not gone to sit with her."

"She is writing a song and needs to be able to concentrate. That is what she has been saying all day. I know that Julian has been skipping some of his classes so he can be with her."

"Have you asked him? Like it or not, he knows her better than you do."

"He says he does not know but he will figure it out."

"Have you asked Dezrick?"

"She is in perfect health. Though he did mention she has not touched her lunch."

"Then something is wrong. Maybe it is the song thing. I imagine that is a hard thing to do."

"It is not that. She is... I think she is sad."

"Sad?"

"Remember how it felt hearing her sing to her family? How it felt to see her cry? She is feeling all of that and more. Something... worse."

"It would make sense that she should feel that way. We forget that these humans are still hurting in a way that we cannot understand. I cannot imagine how it would be to have so much living inside of me."

"It is something I wish for all my people. Our whole lives we have looked for our mates. We live for them. We die for them and we do all of this without even understanding what it is we are dying for. They have none of the proof like we do and yet they feel everything. Their love never dies. It lives on forever. In their love ones, in all of the people that they have touched."

He looked at Frick. "I would wish all of that for you before I would wish a mate on you who was afraid to have feelings for you."

Seeing Frey and Pensley standing just behind Frick, Kell stood. "I know some of you are scared and with good reason but if you cannot trust each other than trust me."

Frey touched his arm before he could go on. "Brother, we are worried. Our gifts are not always easy. Just having you and Jessalynn's feelings inside me have been almost more than I can bear. Pensley has been having dreams that confuse and scare him. After last night, we know we must share them with you."

Kellum looked at Pensley. "What have you seen?"

"Bad times are ahead of us. I saw a world divided in two and the land is swirled in many colors that run and bleed together."

"It sounds a tiny bit more than bad times ahead, Pensley." Frick frowned.

Kellum offered his arm to his brother. Pensley hesitated a moment before clasping it.

The larger man went still, his eyes going pure white.

"I hope one of you have seen that happen before."

Frey nodded slightly. "Only when the sight has taken him in completely. It has been happening a lot here recently."

Eyes that could no longer see stared straight at Kellum then Pensley's head turned until he was staring straight at Jessalynn.

"What do you see?" Panic overwhelmed him.

"Kellum, he cannot talk when_____."

"I cannot see anything. She is locked away from me. Locked far away from you."

As soon as Pensley's hand let go of his arm, his eyes returned to normal, but he didn't move or even take a breath until Frey took his hand. "What did you see?"

"A world divided. A land swirled in many colors that run and bleed together."

"What about Jessalynn?" Kellum demanded.

"I did not see her, I saw you."

"You said she was hidden away."

"I do not know why I would say that. I did not see her. I saw you. Broken down in jagged pieces. Only half of who you are. I saw war."

Kellum took a deep breath. "Pensley, do not say another word. Dezrick, call a meeting. Just the advisors and us are to know about this. Frey, I am sending you and Pensley on ahead. I will be there soon." As soon as they disappeared, he turned to his friend. "Frick, not one word to anyone."

"Do you plan on telling me what the hell is going on?"

"If I can."

He turned away and headed towards his mate. He had no idea what any of this could mean but between this and his unease about Jessalynn he was more worried than he has ever been in his life.

"The advisors______."

He stopped Dezrick before he could go on. "I said I would be there as soon as I can be, and I will be. I want a location when I get there. They were supposed to be months away."

"As you like."

"What is going on?" She asked as he approached, her voice nervous.

"A meeting was called. I will probably not be there for our classes. Why do you not join____?"

"How about I don't, and we say I did?"

"How about you do that." He said softly, wishing her smile was anything like the smile she usually offered him.

She started to say something then stopped herself. Instead of the words that might have revealed something, he got another of those small smiles that sadden him.

"Jessalynn, what happened to us sharing everything with each other?"

Instead of answering, she laid her head on his shoulder. With a deep sigh, he laid his head to hers. "Promise me we will talk soon."

This time when she stopped what she was going to say, it was more than he could take. He knew his hold on her was just shy of leaving bruising. "Tell me, Jessalynn. So, simple. And I swear I will find a way to make it better."

His whisper sent chills through her. Sent her heart racing, but he still did not get what he was asking for. If he could not have that then he needed something else. Needed to know that nothing had changed between them.

Rejoice filled him at the ease in which she came into his arms. She melted against him with just a kiss.

"You forgot the part where you sweep us away from everyone else before you make me lose my head."

Hearing others around them, he realized she was right and smiled. "So, I did. It was worth it to see some light back in your eyes."

"I could say the same about you."

"When you are upset then so am I."

She touched his cheek. "And when you are worried so am I."

"You are my mate, Jessalynn. I will not have you upset. If this is about your oath, if this is about you having to keep things from Julian then I do not want your oath. You are my mate. I trust you and if you trust him then that is good enough for me."

His words had the opposite effect on her than he had hoped for. Tears fell gently to her cheeks tearing gashing holes in his dying heart.

"Go to your meeting and give who, what, I don't know, and who gives a shit a swift kick in the ass for me."

"Julian, watch over her."

"Believe me, I will be."