Free Qaletaqa by DelSheree Gladden Page B

said.
“It was hell, I won’t sugar coat it, but I realized that I am much
stronger than I thought I was.”
    “I still should have been there to support
you. And then I was stupid enough to do it again. I left the potion
to break the bond with Quaile, and I ran,” I said. “I told myself
that I was protecting you, but the truth is I was scared to see
you.”
    “Scared to see me?” Claire asked.
    “I knew that if I stopped to see you before I
left, I would never have the strength to leave again. You say you
found your strength, but when it comes to the bond, I’m still
looking for mine.” I pulled Claire into my arms. The pain of her
touch lost power under her forgiveness. “I’m so glad you came after
me, Claire. I don’t think I could do this without you.”
    Claire stayed in the embrace a moment longer
before pulling back and looking at me very seriously. The deep
frown in her features said she had something more to say. I let my
arms release her warmth and returned her gaze.
    “What’s wrong?” I asked.
    Claire’s fingers came up to my cheek, running
her hands along my jawline. “The bond is so much stronger than you
know.” She took my bandaged hand in hers. It stung when she pulled
my fingers away from my palm, but I didn’t resist. “You did this
for me. I knew the moment I opened the potion that you had suffered
to bring me such a precious gift. As much as that must have hurt,
it’s nothing compared to what you’re about to face,” Claire said.
“I want you to be prepared.”
    “You’re afraid I won’t be able to resist the
bond when I meet Melody.” It wasn’t a question. I hated to admit
it, but I shared her fear. I wanted to wrap my arms around her and
tell her I would never fall victim to fate, but I couldn’t. I felt
the pain of Melody’s capture. I shared in her fear. The desire to
ease her pain had consumed me.
    “I’m not doubting your strength or your love,
Uriah, but I know what a powerful force the Twin Soul bond is,”
Claire said. “If you were just another human facing the bond like I
was, I would have no doubt that you would be able to smother the
bond and walk away like I did. It wouldn’t take you more than a
minute. But you’re not just another human, Uriah. You are the
Qaletaqa.”
    I tried to shake my head. I didn’t want to
admit that my unwanted destiny would have any bearing on the
strength of the bond pulling me toward Melody. Memories of
Bhawana’s vision attempted to push into my thoughts, but I tamped
them down immediately. Kaya and Samantha had to be right. Bhawana
just assumed my Twin Soul would be the crowning joy of my life. She
couldn’t have known for sure.
    “Claire, whatever I’m meant to do, I’m still
the same person I have always been. I won’t give into the bond,” I
said.
    “Were you even listening to Harvey?” Claire
asked. “Melody is just like you, perfect. You two are Twin Souls. I
could have seen that even without everything that’s happened in the
past week. You are both amazing people. I don’t know as much about
the Qaletaqa as I wish I did, but I know about other Tewa heroes.
The stronger the person was, the stronger the Twin Soul bond was
for them. You won’t be any different. Your bond to Melody will be
the strongest this world has ever seen.”
    “I am not a legend, Claire. I’m not some hero
in a story. I control my life, not Fate, or visions, or anything
else.” My voice was loud in the small room, but I didn’t care.
Everyone else who knew my secret looked at me and saw something
more than I really was. I didn’t want to see that in Claire’s eyes
as well. “I am the same person I’ve always been,” I said
softly.
    “I know,” Claire said, her smile soft and
warm. “I know you’re still the same Uriah I have always known, but
I’ve never seen you as an ordinary man. You have always seemed like
someone stepped out of a legend to me, with your strength and
kindness and compassion. I have always known