Kindred Souls Complete Series: Books 1-4

Chapter Sixteen

Aster had already arrivedand was chatting with Sky and Saber when Whist and I came into the dining room. I kissed Sky and Saber’s cheeks before joining them at the table. Whist hadn’t felt like cooking, so we’d ordered a spread from the palace kitchens. His mother was working late, so she wouldn’t be joining us which saddened me. I had grown to adore her over the past week, she was the sweetest and was filling the hole my mother had left behind when she died.

I gave the prince a polite smile where he sat directly across the table from me.

He returned it with a nod. “I brought the messages Indigo wants us to include in the final cut of your songs. I need to get them to the musicians soon so they can learn the music.”

“We can work on them over dinner if you want.” I forced myself to keep my tone civil.

“I would be delighted. May I ask, how do you bring it all together without using an instrument? How do you know if sounds right?”

My fingers curled into fists. I wanted nothing more than to have my ukulele back in my arms. “I don’t have much choice since the king confiscated my ukulele, but I don’t need it. It would be easier, but I can hear the music in my mind.”

He nodded thoughtfully. “Can you play the harp?”

The harp? I wished. “I’ve never had the chance, but I believe I could figure it out.”

Aster exchanged a glance with Saber. “I was hoping to hear the songs, and I had a harp delivered earlier today.”

I gasped in excitement, almost bouncing in my seat. “Where is it?”

Sky clapped his hands and grinned. “You’ll see after dinner.”

“So, would you be willing to try, Rhapsody?” Aster asked.

I tamped down the excitement. “I’ll give it a go. No promises though.”

The prince winced. “I am sorry I could not have your ukulele returned to you. My father refused my request. It is safe though, I can promise you that.”

Longing for my beloved instrument clogged my throat. “Thanks. I can handle it as long as it isn’t destroyed.”

“I will make sure that never happens.”

My eyes narrowed on his, searching for his hidden truths, but only a blank canvas of confidence and calm stared back at me. Maybe playing my music for him was a good idea. If he could hold out against that, then I’d give up. I swallowed the snide comment burning my lips and turned instead to the paper he slid across the table to me.

None of it meant a thing to me. “What exactly is this for? You and Indigo have been incredibly cagey about it.”

He inclined his head slightly. “My apologies. It’s a message for everyone on our side, letting them know when the next meeting is to discuss our next steps. And it lets them know we’ve succeeded in our latest mission.”

“Which was?” Getting information out of him was harder than pulling teeth and even more painful.

“Setting up the meeting with the dragons. It’s taken us a long time to get them to agree. They have no interest in other countries or our politics. So getting the meeting arranged is a big win. Now we just have to hope Indigo can convince them to help us.”

“What help do you want from them?” I smiled at Saber when he handed me a glass with brandy swirling in the bottom two inches.

The prince accepted a glass from Saber with a murmured thanks. “Largely, we want their support in forcing our father to step down. And we hope to forge a trade agreement with them as well.”

“Trade what?”

“Their lands are filled with fruit and vegetables year round and it would be wonderful for us to be able to bring some here. And we have precious stones which they have a lack of. And dragons love sparkly things. We also believe part of the reason so many people go without finding their kindreds is because they live in other countries. How are they supposed to find them when we’re so separated?” Aster stared into his glass before knocking back the entire drink.

Were my parents’ kindreds in the dragon lands or Havisam or one of the further lands? I frowned at the words scrawled on the pages, already with some idea of how I can slip them in without making it too obvious. It had been a long time since I wrote a song with no obvious political meanings. It was actually kind of nice, writing something light and celebratory even if it was a lie.

I slid the scraps of paper from the pocket of my trousers, silently thanking Indigo for sending me clothes other than dresses. For a princess she sure was practical. I liked her. Hopefully it didn’t make me disloyal to my family and beliefs by becoming her friend. Was there really any difference in befriending a royal and accepting the kindred bond with one? Nothing made sense anymore and my confusion had filled every corner of my new songs.

It was impossible for me to separate my emotions from my music. The first one I wrote thumped with a chaotic beat and notes chasing after each other and turning to respond with screeches and clangs. To most, it would sound like an upbeat dance song. But to me, it screamed out my uncertainty and hesitance.

I spread the sheets out on the table and let the chatter of the others fade into the background as I followed where the music tinkling through my brain led me. I scratched and scribbled, occasionally taking a bite of food when Saber pushed it on me, but I was lost to the music. My fingers itched to pluck the notes on my ukulele, instead they plucked silence off the edge of the table. I swayed to the beat only heard in my head.

When I finally had enough of a song to try out on an actual instrument, I blinked and raised my head. The guys were all staring at me, strange expressions on their faces.

“What?” My face flushed with heat. I wasn’t used to an audience when I wrote.

Saber sent me a soft, sweet smile. “Nothing, love. It was fascinating watching you.”

Sky smirked at Saber. “You look pretty similar when you paint, babe.”

Saber ducked his head with a small smile as Sky slid his fingers across Saber’s neck. Warmth welled inside me at the sight. I loved seeing those two touch and cuddle. Though they still hadn’t fucked in front of me and I refused to push it, not wanting it to be about me, it was about them and what they wanted, what they needed.

“I think I’m ready to try playing this and make sure it’s complete.”

“You hardly ate anything, love.” Saber frowned a little in concern.

I looked down at my plate still covered in food. “Sorry. I get a little caught up when I’m working on something new.”

“It’s all right, gorgeous. If you’re hungry later, I can reheat it. You’ll need your strength for later.” Whist’s heated gaze lit all my nerve endings up, electricity shivering across my skin.

Aster cleared his throat, and I finally caught a flash of something real on his face, but I wasn’t sure what it was. Jealousy? Lust? Want? He covered it up before I could be sure.

Sky smiled and leapt to his feet. “Finally. We can show her.”

My eyes narrowed on him in suspicion. “Show me what?”