Free Origin (Eternal Sacrifice Saga Book 2) by Dylan Quinn

laugh.
    I stooped down and rifled through the flowers, picking out my favorites: Pink calla lilies, and of course, my peonies that smelled so good.
    “Do you want me to talk to her?” I asked. “I don’t really know how any of this works. Nobody’s told me anything.”
    “Me either.” He kicked at the tall cattails growing alongside a path leading to the Trees. “From what I know, once a couple’s been matched, they need to get together as soon as they can. That sure isn’t happening.”
    “You got your Gemini mark already, right?” I peered up at him.
    “Yeah?”
    “Well if you do, she does too. Hasn’t anybody talked to her about it?” I stood up, arranging the flowers into a pretty bouquet.
    Julian shrugged.
    “Has she even asked about it?”
    “I keep trying to look at her wrist, but she hides it. I don’t know if she realizes it’s me, or what. I’m sure she doesn’t know what this all means if you haven’t told her.”
    “Sorry, I don’t know what my role is. From what I knew, we were going to be gone on our honeymoon by now, not me marrying off my best friend or matching Firstborns. I’ll ask Gabrielle.”
    I blew out a breath and sat back down amongst the flowers.
    “What’s wrong, boss?”
    “I don’t know. I guess I expected this to be different. Magical.”
    Julian crouched down in front of me. He cupped his hands together and a second later, opened them. A tiny hummingbird fluttered its wings and flew off into the meadow. “It is.”
    “Hey, how’d you do that?” I narrowed my eyes.
    “It’s the magic of Aravot, baby.” He winked, sitting down beside me.
    “Cade and I didn’t get any time together in Chicago. He kept badgering me to go away with him, and I kept putting it off like an idiot. Now when I want to go, we can’t.”
    “Why not?”
    “I don’t’ know. I have a feeling there’s something going on nobody’s telling me.”
    “Yeah, there’s stuff going down. I’m sure boss man will tell you.”
    I peered over to my Tree, and a bulb burned brightly, calling me over.
    I absentmindedly stood and wandered over, picking the burning bulb. It glowed brightly, lifted off my hand, and disappeared into the meadow.
    I’d never get enough of that.
    Julian’s hand touched my shoulder. “You okay?”
    “Yeah. I know it’s my job and all, but I just got Cade back. I just want some time alone with him.”
    I glanced down at the trunk of my Tree and spotted a small black speck of something at the root. I bent down and rubbed my fingers against the goop on the bark. The black stuff stuck to my finger. Sticky, like tar.
    “What’s this?”
    I turned to Julian, but he’d walked off a few feet away, probably talking to somebody in his head.
    I’d have to ask Cade about the Tree.
    I turned and walked over to catch up with Julian.
    “Ready?” He asked. “Phoebe and Remie probably want to get this over with so they can do the dirty.” Julian wiggled his eyebrows.
    “Julian.” I rolled my eyes.
    “Hey, it’s true. Humans do that, right? They wait till they’re Converged? I mean, married. No wonder Phoebe didn’t want to wait. She’d literally be dead before that happened.”
    “What?” I narrowed my eyes.
    Julian sealed his lips, and his eyes went wide. He realized whatever it was he said, he shouldn’t have as soon as it left his mouth.
    “Julian?” I set my hands on my hips and narrowed my eyes.
    “I…” his mouth stood open for a second. “I can’t. You need to talk to boss man about this one.”
    “No, you started it. Tell me.” I moved closer and got in his face, despite the fact he was a good inch or two taller than me. “I’m Chayah. Now tell me what you’re talking about. What do you mean, she’ll be dead?”
    His face scrunched up into all sorts of weird shapes, then he turned around and stomped.
    “Damn it, why do you have to pull the Eternal Mother card?” He put his hands on his hips, staring at his feet, and blew out a hard