“How do I know you’re really Reese?” I demand. His eyes widen in surprise.
“Oh god, right,” he blows out a big breath, “Umm, what can I do to prove it to you?”
I consider his words, and realize that I don’t really know. The spectre would know everything he does. I think it over, and ask, “What would you do if I told you I wouldn’t be able to touch you or be physical with you?”
Reese’s face relaxes into a soft smile. “Soleil, Juniper told me that touch isn’t your thing a while back. I’ve known that touch might not be in the cards for us, and that’s something we can build on later. If not, that’s okay, too. We’re Soulmates, angel. What’s one little bump in the road in the long run?” My shoulder sag and I nod. Maybe the spectre would say that too, but something about the soft colors in his eyes makes me believe him. “Now that I passed the test,” Reese winks, “Let’s get to bed. We have an early one.” We walk over to the bed, and Reese gestures for me to get in. I crawl into the bed and pull the covers over me. Reese gets on top of the covers next, careful to keep his distance from me. Ultimately, I’m sandwiched between the tent wall and Reese’s body.
I turn onto my side to face him. He’s laying on his back with his arms behind his head. “You can get under the blankets, if you want,” I whisper, “It’s gonna get cold.” Reese gives me a hesitant look and I return it with a reassuring smile. He sidles under the covers and lays on his side, facing me.
We lay there like that in silence for at least a couple hours. The sun goes down and it is dark in the tent. I can barely see his face, though it’s only about a foot from mine. The cover of night emboldens me to try something. I reach out and gently run my fingers across his cheek. I can hear his breath hitch, and I pause for a second, then keep going. His skin is smooth across his cheek bones, and then I can feel a hint of stubble on his jaw. I move my hand back up his face a bit more confidently and I run my fingers through his long hair, all the way down to the nape of his neck. From his neck, I let my hand fall to his chest and stop. I can feel his heart racing through his shirt, and I marvel at the feeling of his thrumming chest. I made his heart beat like that.
“I’m not sure what it is about you,” I whisper, “But you make me feel unafraid. Normally, touch causes me pain, but you just make me want to feel again.” I pull my hand back up his neck and place it on his cheek. He puts his hand over top of mine, and holds it there.
“What did the spectre say to you, Soleil?” Reese asks me again. I think for a moment about how I want to answer. In the dark, I feel more comfortable talking about it because it’s easier for me to disguise the emotion that’s normally written plain across my face.
“It said that you- well, not you, but you- didn’t want me,” I whispered as blase as I could manage, “It said that you wanted something physical, and I couldn’t give that to you. That if I came to the palace, you would just use me as entertainment for your courtiers or you’d pass me off to Wren or something. And it said that eventually it would arrange an accident for me anyways, so it would just be easier for both of us if I just died in the pool like I was supposed to.” I shrug nonchalantly, as if I was discussing the weather and not the heart breaking words that nearly caused my demise. Reese is speechless for a moment. Then his arms are around me and crushing me to his chest.
“Oh, angel,” his voice breaks, “Let me be very clear, right now: I have been crazy about you the moment I saw you lying in the bottom of that pool. Your hair was floating in a halo around your head, and the sun breaking through the water shone this enchanting light across your face. You looked like an angel. I knew, before I even met you, that I wanted- no, needed you alive, here, with me. Sweet Soleil, now that I know you, I can’t be without you ever again.” Suddenly, I’m sobbing into his shirt. From the spectre’s harsh words to Reese’s sweet ones, it’s just too much to keep in any longer. He holds me tighter and lets me cry into him until I have no tears left. I’m left bone tired, and I pull myself closer to him.
“Thank you, Reese,” I whisper as I fade into unconsciousness.
“No, Soleil. Thank you,” I hear, and I let sleep take me.
Chapter 18
Icarus
I take a deep breath. “Does anyone want to explain what the hell just happened?”
Wren and I are staring at Soleil, waiting for some sort of explanation as to how we ended up a spectre’s victims. However, the poor girl can’t seem to stop shaking. Guilt hits me for trying to get an answer out of someone who nearly just died for the third time in a week. I crawl across the beach to where Wren holds a petrified Soleil, and without thinking, I pull her into my lap and cradle her against my chest. Instantly she starts sobbing into my chest. I haven’t known her for long, but one thing I have learned about Soleil is that she is a pretty tough woman, so to see this kind of reaction from her terrifies me. I rock her in my lap and whisper to her that she’s safe and I won’t let anyone hurt her. I look over to Wren and he looks as alarmed by this as I feel.
After a few minutes, Soleil pulls herself out of my chest and looks up at me. Her face is streaked with tears, and her green eyes glimmer. “I’m so sorry, Your High- er, Reese,” she apologizes, “I didn’t mean for the two of you to get hurt.” She peeks over at Wren. “I’m really sorry, Wren.”
Wren snorts. “For what, encountering a spectre?” he asks, “That’s like a dream come true! No apology necessary.” He grins at Soleil and I roll my eyes at his insanity. I do not doubt his words in the slightest. Wren is a nut job.
She turns back to me, but she looks down. “I’m so sorry I let this happen, Prince Icarus,” she whispers. I jolt a bit at the use of my title. What did that thing say to her?
“First of all, never call me that again,” I demand. She gives me a half smile, and once I’m sure that sunk in, I go on, “Second, this was not your fault, Soleil. Who would have thought a spectre of all things would have waltzed into a military encampment for its victim?” I shake my head in bewilderment and smile in disbelief. “I swear, angel, you really do have the absolute worst luck.” I run my hand across her cheek. She grabs my hand, and I expect her to pull it away. Instead, she holds it tighter to her face. “Will you tell us what happened now?” I ask as gently as I can. I feel her flinch and she looks back down. She clearly isn’t ready to discuss it, and I can’t help but feel sad and frustrated. Not because she won’t tell me, but because I don’t know how to make this right.
I sigh, and I help her to her feet. Immediately, she falls back against me.
“Sol, you’re in no condition to walk,” I observe with a frown.
My stubborn girl forces herself back up to her feet. “I’ll have you know I walked all the way here myself,” Soleil announces, “I think I’m perfectly capable of walking myself back.” She takes a step forward, and goes back down in an instant. I anticipated as much, and was there to catch her. Again.
“Soleil, besides the insanity you endured today, you still have a major wound in your shoulder,” I remark, “If we let you walk all the way back to camp, we’d be out all night.” Wren busts out laughing, but stops when the small girl in my arms glares at him. The idea that this girl was able to stop my friend in his tracks with a mean look has me holding in a laugh of my own. She looks over at me before I have time to compose myself and gives me the same glare. Soleil turns and starts to stomp away. I roll my eyes, take a stride behind her, and sweep her into my arms.
“Hey!” she shouts in protest. I laugh and head for the trees.
“Coming, Wren?” I call back to my friend.
“Right behind you, buddy!” I hear Wren shout, “Just had to grab little Miss Independent’s boots and sling!” Soleil groans dramatically and I laugh at her. She was fully prepared to prove herself by walking off into the woods sans boots and sling. That’s about right.
“Hey, Wren, did you get a chance to discuss our leave with command before we had to rescue a certain somebody?” I ask Wren as he makes his way toward us. I feel
Soleil lean her head into my chest, and I smile at the closeness.
“Yes, I did, no thanks to you, Your Highness,” Wren bounds up next to us, “Can you believe this guy?” he says to my angel, “He makes a whole deal about arranging transport, and he doesn’t even show up to the meeting! He’s too busy doing god knows what in his tent!”
“Yeah Reese, what were you doing?” I hear Soleil remark from where I hold her against me. Oh god. Does she think I was…?
“It’s not what you’re insinuating!” I insist, “I was just cleaning up!”
“Oh, I’m sure, love,” Soleil pats my chest, “I’m sure.” Her and Wren are laughing, but I stop dead in my tracks. ‘Love.’ She called me ‘love.’ I gaze down at her in absolute awe. She looks up at me, and the giggles fade away. For a moment, I just drink her in. This is the girl I will marry, be with forever. I’ve been so worried that I was forcing something on her, but with that one word, ‘love,’ I realize that just maybe, she feels the same way about me that I do about her. I feel like my heart skips a beat thinking about the life we could have and how it was very nearly ripped away from us by that spectre.
“Umm, excuse me, Mister and Missus Soulmates?” Wren calls ahead of us, “We still have a ways to go, and it’s gonna be dark soon…” He’s right. I give Soleil a smile and pick up the pace.
“Anyways,” Wren continues the earlier discussion, “The four of us leave for the Mont Tien palace at sun up. It will be a few hours' ride, and we will be met at the palace by a welcome delegation.” I throw him a thankful nod, and a quiet descends over the three of us as we contemplate everything happening around us. With the increase in pace, we reach the plateau in no time. I send Wren up first. It doesn’t feel right to let go of Soleil, but I begrudgingly let her walk up the plateau on her own so I don’t have to worry about slipping with her in my arms.
“I’m going to take Soleil back to the hospital tent for the night,” I say to Wren, “Do you mind finding Juniper and filling her in?” Wren perks upp at the mention of Juniper and agrees all too quickly to go find the redhead. I pull Soleil back into my arms.
“I think I’m capable of walking to the hospital tent,” she tries to convince me. Automatically, I tighten my grip on her a bit. I almost lost her today. How can I possibly allow her to go back somewhere I can’t keep her safe?
I take a breath to gather my courage and look down at her curious green eyes. “Actually, I was wondering if you would be okay with staying in my tent tonight? In case the spectre comes back, I mean,” the words come out in a rush, “It’s just… I was really scared today, and I’d just sleep better knowing you were somewhere I could protect you.” My courage gives way to a quiet vulnerability, and I look at her face, trying to read her emotions. She considers me for a moment, and gives a slight nod. I feel tension leave my shoulders when I realize she won’t reject me. “I can have another cot brought in,” I said quickly, “Not that I don’t want to sleep with you! I mean, not sleep with you, I meant actual sleep. My cot is a double so it’s big enough, so we could fit, but that might be a little much, so I’ll have another one brought in.” Oh. My. God. Shut. Up. You. Idiot.
He carried her into my tent and gently set my angel on her feet. “I’m sorry, I really don’t know how to do this,” I let out a breathy laugh and feel the blood pooling in my cheeks. Soleil just smiles at me and squeezes my hand. Then she looks around my tent in astonishment.
“Wow,” she whispers and takes a few steps inward, “Being a prince really does have its perks.” I watch her run her hand over my desk, then walk to my bed nestled in the back of the tent. She touches the pillows and comforter. I stare at her in wonder. Not only is there a girl in my room, but it’s the girl I’m going to marry. It feels so surreal. Soleil suddenly turns back to me in alarm. “Oh, I’m really sorry,” she states, “I shouldn’t be touching your stuff.”
Immediately, I’m shaking my head. “No, no, it’s not that,” I walk over towards her, “It’s just that… I like seeing you here. It feels right to be sharing this with you.” I shrug nonchalantly. Soleil just beams up at me in happiness and I instantly relax.
Without announcement, a soldier steps into the tent. His sudden entrance forces Soleil to step away from me in alarm, and I shoot the man a dirty look. However, when I see he is carrying a large tray of food, I understand that Wren probably told him to come barging in, just to mess with me. The soldier places the food on the dining table I have set up at the end of the bed and leaves without a word. Soleil looks over at me and raises an eyebrow. I realize then what this must look like: as if I had planned to get her in my tent tonight all along.
“Wren probably sent him with our dinner,” I explain, “The fact that he sent it here is just a testament to how well he knows me.” I wink and she smiles at me. God, I love her smile. She whirls around, grabs a cheesy roll, and sits back on the bed. I raise an eyebrow at her seating choice, and I watch her realize that there is seating at the table. She blushes, and moves to go to the chairs, but I quickly grab the tray of food and sit beside her. “This is way cozier,” I say and grab a cheesy roll for myself. She smiles at me again and we dig into the pile.
We quickly clear the tray, and I move the tray back to the table. Soleil looks exhausted, and she lays back on the bed. I feel like I’m intruding, and I stand. “Umm, do you want me to grab a cot?” I ask her. You idiot. You sound like you’re kicking her out. As expected, she shoots into a seated position.
“Oh, shoot, I’m sorry,” she starts apologizing, “I didn’t mean to get in your space. It is late though, and,” she pauses to take a breath and looks down self-consciously, “We don’t have to bother anyone. We can share. If you want.” she mumbles. I process what she just said. Sleep in the same bed? With her? At first, I think of what would be the proper thing to say and do, which would be to get another cot immediately. Then I think of how I almost lost her today, and how bad she must need me if she’s willing to forego her touch rule to sleep in the same bed. Screw it.
I take her hands and she looks up at me. “I’d really like that angel,” I whisper. She smiles softly, and gives a little shiver then looks at her clothes. Oh, she’s still wearing her cold, wet clothes from earlier! I internally smack my forehead. Again. I run over to my dresser and pull out a shirt and random pair of pants for her. “Sorry, I should have thought of this earlier,” I say guiltily, “You must be freezing.” I walk them over to her, and she just stands there still for a moment, clothes in hand. Oh my god, Reese, are you gonna make her change in front of you too? This time I can’t help but smack my forehead. “Oh, right, I’ll give you a minute to change,” I add. Before I go, I grab some clothes for myself, as I’m still in my wet uniform. I rush out of the tent without another glance back.
Once outside, I pause and take a deep breath to collect my thoughts. I don’t know what about her turns me into a babbling moron. I look around for a place to change, and decide on the Geochroman meeting tent. I peek in, and the tent is empty, so I quickly peel my wet clothes off and don the long sleeve black shirt and gray sweats. I fold my wet uniform, and mill about the tent, just to give Soleil a couple of extra minutes alone to make sure she’s dressed. There’s a pile of newspapers from all of the nations in the continent on the desk in the back of the tent, and I pick one up. It’s the Mont Tien Times, and the front page is a picture of me with the headline, “The Gift Comes Early for Prince Icarus.” I grab another, and this one is the Geochroma Glory. The two pictures on the front are of my formal portrait next to an enlistment photo of Soleil, with the caption, “Geochroman Soldier to be Mont Tien Princess.” Sohalas Words is a similar front page, but Thalassi’s Thalassi Wave reads, “Massacre of Thalassians Ends in Gift Hoax.” What? I quickly skim through the page. According to this, Geochroma and Mont Tien conspired to violate the ceasefire to massacre a peaceful Thalassian company stationed nearby as border patrol. Apparently, so the entire massacre is covered up, we planned a way to fake a Resonation so that everyone w
ould talk about the Gift and not the slaughter of Thalassian soldiers. I throw the paper down, furious at the misinformation. I stomp out of this tent and walk straight into my own.
I pause when I see Soleil. She’s standing over my desk wearing my t-shirt, nearly long enough to pass as a dress, and it seems she’s traded the pants for a pair of my boxer briefs. Her hair is piled in an informal bun on top of her head. Loose tendrils frame her face. How does she make loose clothes and messy hair look so stunning?
She notices my presence and looks up. Her face brightens, and she takes a step forward, then freezes. A look of fear and insecurity settles on her face, and she crosses her arms over her chest. I’m taken aback, confused by the sudden change.
“How do I know you’re really Reese?” she asks in a low voice. At first I’m confused. Who else would I be? Then I remember the day’s events.
“Oh god, right,” I say with a big breath, “Umm, what can I do to prove it to you?”
She looks at me thoughtfully, and after a moment of consideration, asks, “What would you do if I told you I wouldn’t be able to touch you or be physical with you?”
I give her a soft smile. I was worried she was going to ask me something impossible, but my response comes easily. “Soleil, Juniper told me that touch isn’t your thing a while back. I’ve known that touch might not be in the cards for us, and that’s something we can build on later. If not, that’s okay, too. We’re Soulmates, angel. What’s one little bump in the road in the long run?” She takes a deep breath, and relaxes with a nod. I don’t know what Other Me told her, but I must have answered right. “Now that I passed the test,” I try to lighten the heavy feeling in the air, “Let’s get to bed. We have an early one.” I gesture her into the bed. I want her to pick where she would be more comfortable laying. Ultimately, she decides to lay on the end closest to the tent wall. I’m relieved that she chose that side. With me on the end by the door, I could feel anyone come in or if she tries to leave. I lay down on top of the comforter, as far from Soleil as I can manage without falling off the bed. I already feel like I forced her to be here tonight. The least I could do is give her as much space as I can manage.
Souls & Spectres: The Spectral Chronicles: Book 1 Page 9