were my equals, I merely helped to guide them when needed. Right here, next to you on the earth, is exactly where I want to be.”
Damn, she was even better than I’d heard or read about. “Stryx does the same thing where he can read my thoughts. Will I be able to do that one day to others?” I asked, since she seemed to know what I was thinking as I thought it.
“Most likely, but you won’t know for sure until all of your bonds are in place. You need as many trustworthy people by your side to help support the strength of your full force. Once you have accepted what is meant to be, there should be nothing you can’t do.”
Ugh, so we were back to that. Take a man or be weak. Hell, no.
“That’s not what I meant, and it saddens me you feel that way, Kaliah. Our kind was created by powerful women. Merakis were not created to make us less powerful or show that we were weak without them, but to do the opposite, in fact. For you, Ryland would be your anchor to the worlds that you need in order to access your full power. He would cherish you and everything you’re made of, protecting you from anything that means you harm.
“He would love you so fiercely, your abilities would only grow stronger and more powerful, even though he is helping to carry the weight. Together, the two of you would become an unstoppable force, sharing a love and bond like no other in your lifetime. But only if you are open to the future possibilities, instead of being stuck in the past.”
I snorted. “In the past? Him treating me like crap just happened this morning. I get what you’re saying, and it all sounds great, but it seems to me that Fate is the only one who wants us together. I had been open to accepting him, faults and all, before he flat-out rejected me this morning.”
“I’d like to show you something. Do you mind?” She raised a hand, and I nodded before she cupped my cheek.
As soon as her skin touched mine, images rolled through my vision as if I was watching a movie. Beginning with clips of Ryland pacing in his house, mumbling and being angry. Then it switched to him outside of my house, scared and sad. Followed by him when he was with me, but with the ability to focus on his face when I wasn’t looking at him.
There was admiration in his eyes and lots of despair, which was breaking my heart as I saw it. Then, it showed him leaving my house earlier that day, and porting right to the very spot I sat. He’d come to the safety of the falls and hidden exactly where I’d chosen.
And just like me, he wasn’t alone for very long. A man appeared before him and they walked away together, or at least a spirit form of Ryland did as his body stayed put. With the final scene, it showed Ryland waking up, joy radiating from him, along with a brightness in his eyes I’d yet to see and a renewed determination.
“Do you see what I see?” Taliah asked when she was done with her mind invasion.
What did I see? I witnessed a broken man, a selfish and angry-at-the-world man. But I also saw someone fighting a battle alone. Though, we weren’t in his head. There was no way to know what he was fighting.
“He was fighting against you. I know that doesn’t sound appealing, but Ryland knew from the moment he laid eyes on you that you were special. When he realized how much you were to mean to him, he ran from his feelings of love and turned them into anger. Anger at having to betray the one he thought deserved his loyalty even though she no longer walks these worlds.
“While I wouldn’t normally let my granddaughter settle for anything less than her worth, and Ryland hasn’t proved he’s deserving, I do believe he has realized his mistakes. I have full faith that he is capable of being a worthy Meraki to you if you give him a chance. His loyalty was his downfall, but it could also be what keeps you safest.”
Damn it. She was completely right, but I was still having a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact I was supposed to just accept him as my soulmate after the last few weeks of rejection.
“In