She went willingly, curling up on his lap, burrowing her head into the curve of his shoulder. “And not much has changed over the centuries,” he murmured.
She tipped her head back. “Do you really believe that?”
He met her gaze and gently smoothed her hair back from her face. “No. No, I do not. You’re still stubborn, but there is no great thirst in you, Shea. You’ve learned there are limits to everything. You still won’t listen to me, but . . .”
She slapped him. “I listen. When I want to.”
“Ah. Yes, a fine distinction.” He waved one hand and her clothing disappeared. Shea was grateful. She needed to feel the heat of his skin against hers. The solid strength of him.
“It’s all I can promise, Torin.” She looked up at him.
“As I suspected,” he murmured. Then his hand stilled on her back. “We have to leave again, Shea.”
“I know.” She chewed at her bottom lip.
“What?” He glowered at her until Shea opened her mind to him and he saw for himself what she had done while he was showering.
“Damn it, Shea! You allowed an enemy into your thoughts.”
“I was in hers as well,” she reminded him.
“And what did you discover?”
“Not much.”
“Was it the same woman you saw before? Who is she?”
“Yes—and I don’t know,” Shea admitted, scrubbing her hands up and down her arms. “All I know is she’s powerful and she wants me.”
“Well, she can’t have you.” He pulled her in close. “Leaving your body is a dangerous business, Shea. You shouldn’t try it without an anchor.”
Astral projection was a means of spiritual travel—to leave your own body behind and allow your mind, your very essence, to fly free. The only problem was, if you were cut off from your body, you might just end up stuck in the between world—not alive, not dead, just . . . not.
“Next time I’ll have you with me, okay?”
“Agreed. Now that you’ve unlocked your memories, do you know where we have to go next?”
She mentally grabbed hold of the memory that had plagued her only moments before. “I don’t know the exact spot yet, but I have sensed we have to go to England first.”
“I thought we would eventually end up there.”
She turned against him, pressing her breasts to his chest. “Of course you did. You remember where we were.”
“No,” he said softly, meeting her gaze. “None of the Eternals remembers that last night very well. I only know that the coven was based in Europe for a very long time.”
“I remembered something else,” she told him. “A name. Haven.” She studied his reaction. “You know that name. Do you know where it is?”
“No, not precisely.” He caressed her cheek. “The coven allowed no one into Haven. I know only that it was hidden from all but the coven. But after that?” He shrugged. “Back then, none of you risked sharing too much with us. None of you was willing to allow us too close for fear that you would lose some of the power you craved so desperately.”
She laughed a little and the sound was filled with misery. “God, how did you stand any of us? I only remember pieces, but you’ve got all of the memories, don’t you?” She looked up at him. “How do you see me now without seeing her?”
He cupped her face in his palms, his thumbs tracing over her cheekbones. His gaze locked with hers, he said simply, “I have always seen you, Shea. For who you are. Not for the hungers or needs that grip you as they do all of us. But the woman inside. The woman whose soul has finally found its way. Your time has finally come.”
Shea dropped her head to his chest and just leaned on him, feeling his strength. His permanence. This man had been with her through eternity. He’d watched over her even when she hadn’t deserved his protection. And he was still here, supporting her even though he had every reason to mistrust her.
Funny, she thought. Since the moment she’d met him outside the school—and didn’t that feel like a lifetime ago?—she’d wondered if he could be trusted. She’d held herself back, unsure of him or his loyalties.
Ironic to realize that through the centuries it had been she who was the one not to be trusted.
His big hand cupped the back of her head and held her close to him. “Trust yourself, Shea. Trust in the Awakening.”
She nodded. “I’ll figure it out, Torin. I’ll get us to Haven.”