Free The Dove (Prophecy Series) by Sharon Sala Page A

neck.
    “No, it is not your doing any more than mine. It is what it is, and that is all. I’m just sad, but this happens to many parents. Children pick their partner and walk away to a new life. It is how life is meant to be lived. I have you, my love, I have you, and it will always be enough.”
    Her sorrow had shredded his soul. He loved her so much it hurt to draw breath. “You are my heart. If you cry, it does not beat.”
    She stood up, unwrapped her shift, letting it fall to the floor at her feet.
    Cayetano dropped his own clothing and laid her down on their bed. He was already erect and aching as he slid into the warmth between her legs. No matter how many times he made love to his woman, it always felt like their first time, back when they were young and their blood was hot, back when it was magic.
     
    ****
     
    Tyhen was dreaming. She knew it was a dream because although the wind was blowing, she could not feel it on her face. Her throat hurt and there was blood all over her fingers, but she couldn’t remember why. She heard people crying and screaming and before she could figure out what had happened, Acat was leaning over her and shaking her shoulder and Yuma was running into the room.
    He dropped to his knees beside her bed and laid his hand on her forehead, feeling for a fever.
    Tyhen pushed his hand away and frowned at Acat. “What’s the matter with you two?”
    “You screamed,” Acat said.
    “Like you were being murdered,” Yuma added.
    At that point, Cayetano came running with two of his guards behind him. “What happened?” he yelled.
    Tyhen sighed. “I am sorry. I am sorry. It was a dream.”
    Singing Bird slipped into the room and quickly sent the guards away and sent Acat to the kitchen for a sleeping potion for Tyhen. Once they were alone, she closed the door and turned to face her daughter.
    “It has begun,” she said.
    Tyhen frowned. “What has begun?”
    “You are not dreaming. You are having visions of what will be,” Singing Bird said.
    Tyhen sat up. Her voice was shaking, her eyes wide with shock. “The other night I dreamed a mountain exploded and fire ran like water from its mouth. That cannot be.”
    “A volcano,” Yuma said.
    Singing Bird nodded.
    Tyhen covered her face. “You mean that thing is real?”
    “I have seen such a thing,” Cayetano said as he smoothed the hair from her face. “But it was a long time ago when I was a child, before we came here to Naaki Chava. Many people died.”
    Tyhen shuddered.
    “What did you see tonight?” Yuma asked.
    “My throat was hurting and there was blood all over my hands. People were standing all around me. Some were crying and some were praying.”
    Singing Bird frowned. “Were you hurt?”
    She shook her head. “I don’t know. I woke up.”
    Singing Bird frowned at Yuma.
    “I will never be far away,” he said softly.
    Singing Bird’s shoulders sagged. At that moment she felt helpless and old. When Acat came back with the sleeping drink, instead of giving it to Tyhen, Singing Bird drank it herself, then excused herself and left.
    Tyhen felt broken, helpless to recreate the safety of home.
    Yuma saw the pain and fear on her face and couldn’t walk away.
    “I will stay with you,” he said.
    Acat lay down on her sleeping mat and turned her face to the wall.
    “Lie down, little whirlwind,” he said softly.
    “I won’t sleep,” Tyhen said as she crawled back onto her bed and rolled over on her side.
    “Then neither will I,” he said and got into the bed behind her, put his arm over her body, and pulled her close.
    Shocked by the intimacy, Tyhen was trembling so hard she could barely breathe, but when he didn’t move again, she began to relax. She never felt the skip her heart took as it shifted into the rhythm of Yuma’s pulse. All she felt was the wash of comfort roll through her as she closed her eyes.
     

 

Chapter Six
     
    The last day of the festival was bittersweet for Singing Bird. All of her old