would fall into his trap. But with her help, and that of his brothers, Raesus was able to defeat the Darkness. But he died doing so. That is where I come in. I am Charsus, soul-shepherd to my people and many others. I am a Spirit-Walker like all my people, the Therans. I am Raesus’ and his brothers’ uncle. His mother’s brother.
“I promised my sister, after she died, to watch over her sons and keep them safe. But the Darkness kept me from seeing their timelines. Until Marissa short-circuited the glyph that imprisoned Raesus’ power and kept him hidden. I saw his death, and I came for him. As he was not finished his work on this level of reality, he asked to be returned to his body. His brothers healed him well enough that I could return his soul.
“In the meantime, the Zuaire and Keeda used the storm to enter Vargan territory and grab you, thinking you were Marissa. The Darkness wanted her because she could keep It from controlling Raesus, and It needed Raesus’ power. He is a very powerful being.
“Rian died trying to save you. He did that because you were his podmate, young as he is, that is what Danans do. Their one purpose in life, once a mate is found, is to keep her safe.”
The shock of this information had me opening and then closing my mouth. What could I say? On some level, I knew it was true. As impossible as it seemed, I’d sensed the connection between us. The devastation I felt at his death was far greater than it should have been for someone I’d known for mere hours.
“Rian’s soul followed you onto the Keeda ship and saw where they were headed. He was desperate to get the information to his people. Because of his father, he had a better than normal understanding of the other realms. That allowed him to draw to him what he needed. Me. I was still recovering from reintegrating Raesus’ soul into his body when Rian found me.
“Rather than just pass on your location, I agreed to integrate Rian’s soul with my own. I allowed him to become co-pilot, if you will, of this body.”
My mind was reeling. Rian shared the body of the beautiful elven being before me? Was that why he sometimes seemed so familiar when I looked into his eyes? Was that why I felt so safe with him?
I stared at the elven face, hoping to see Rian inside. But the other being, Charsus, was telling the story. I could only see his expression on the cut-glass features.
“We were closer to the location the ship was heading than the rest of your pod, so we went on ahead. We arrived a little before you and kept watch until we were sure we could help you escape. The rest you know.
“Except that our ship is unable to leave this planet now. It was damaged severely passing through the portal. It is beyond my meager abilities to repair. So we must wait for help to arrive. We sent a message before we entered the portal, so the Danans know where we are. They will be here in a week. All we have to do is survive until then. There is food and water, although we will have to monitor our consumption. Unless the water here is drinkable. That I am not sure about.”
He stopped talking and leaned his head on one elbow, his body facing me. His serenity had slipped away, and I saw Rian looking out at me, his eyes filled with awe and amazement.
“Rian?” I choked out.
He nodded.
I reached for him. It didn’t matter to me how this had happened, or if it was permanent. The sweet boy I thought lost to me was here. For me, he’d not only died, but sought to come back from death. For me! It was the most incredible thing I’d ever heard.
12
JENNA
Rian crossed the distance between us and lay close at my side, silver orbs riveted to my green ones.
“Are you okay with all this? Being a podmate? Having a dead man here with you…”
I laughed. “How can I be your podmate if you’re not a Danan anymore?” I was teasing, but it struck Rian as surely as if I’d meant it to hurt him.
His expression became troubled. “I don’t know. But I feel as strongly connected to you in this form as I was in my Danan body. I know you didn’t want to be a