Kindred Souls Complete Series: Books 1-4

Chapter Nineteen

Elora waited for mein the courtyard and led me to the training grounds. I threw a hand up and waved goodbye to Aster. He escorted me since my assassins were needed for a job before the gala tonight. Not an assassination, thankfully. Security for the party. The king had yet to bring them back into the fold; I assumed since they would become princes if I accepted the bond with Aster. It was all very strange and confusing and the books weren’t helping me understand the politics as much as I’d hoped. What I had learned was I hated politics. I hated the fraud, the games, the lies, the masks.

I was a bit bored, the danger and intrigue I expected nowhere in sight. It was giving me time to get to know my kindreds better, but it was also giving me too much time to dwell on my fourth and it wasn’t something I wanted to talk over with Saber, Sky, and Whistler. I knew what they wanted, and they were trying hard not to push me. Something I appreciated. But it would be nice to talk to someone who was a little more unbiased.

“Ready for the gala tonight?” Elora asked.

I shrugged. Not really. “I guess.”

She snorted as she wiped down the blade of her sword. “Not too excited to be brought before the royal society and introduced as the prince’s kindred?”

“Nope. Especially since I haven’t decided what to do about it yet.”

She shoved her cloth into her pocket. “I thought you had decided.”

“I thought I had too, but I see the reasons to stay.” I frowned at the sword in my hands, wish it held the answers I needed.

Elora slid her sword back into the scabbard on her hip. “Sure, it would make your other kindreds happy, it would make the prince ecstatic, it would help in our current goals, but ultimately you have to decide for yourself if it’s something you want.”

“Was it hard for you?”

She stared over at the orchard, her eyes not seeing the trees, but looking into her past. “I never had a choice. I was the royal guard. Then, Indigo and I met, and we both felt it. From there, it was such a whirlwind, I never stopped to make a choice.”

“Do you regret it? Would you have chosen differently?” I needed to know, to understand. She has left a common sort of life and ended up a fucking princess. One day, she’d be a queen.

Elora whipped her head back to me. “Hell no. I love her. More than I ever thought possible. And I love Lysander. He”s my best friend. The three of us fit together perfectly, like we were made for each other. Which, I suppose we were. But my parents were an awful match. I had four of them. Two dads and two moms. It was a disaster. They never found a groove, always fighting over each other, dealing with petty jealousies. So the bonds aren’t always the best options. I don’t understand why it works for some and doesn’t for others. Maybe because we’re human. Maybe my parents could have been great together, but they didn’t work hard enough for it. Or maybe whatever force drives us together made a mistake. But Indigo, Lysander, and I work hard together. We make sure we communicate and are transparent with each other. We still fight and have misunderstandings and hurt feelings. We aren’t perfect. But we’re perfect for each other. You seem to have that with your assassins and luckily they’re completely willing for Aster to join. That’s a big deal. That they aren’t upset and possessive. I think the five of you could work. But you have to let go of your view of royals. If you can’t, then you and Aster are doomed. Which could break up the lot of you.”

My eyes widened and my jaw dropped. I’d never heard her say so many things total before. She was usually focused on training, and she left personal matters out of it.

“What?” She frowned in confusion.

A smirk pulled at the corner of my lips. “That was just a long speech.”

She faked a scowl. “I’ve been watching you agonize over this choice for days. And I’ve watched the prince agonize over you. He’s trying to give you space, but it’s killing him. And I’ve also seen the way you stare after him. Look, get to know him. Spend time with him. Alone. See if there’s something there beyond the bond riding you. Hell, take him out for a spin and fuck him. That’s my advice, if you want it.”

I stuttered. “I... I’ll definitely think about it.”

She nodded briskly. “Excellent. Now. Think you can take on a live opponent or do you want to keep working with the practice dummy?”