Chapter Six #3
Aiden looked over at Drago and Colin who were laughing.
Then Colin turned to Killian and his team, who were watching the scene before them with confused and astounded looks.
“Well, son, you now have your fourth.” He turned back to Aiden and clasped him on the shoulder.
“Welcome to Killian’s Sentinel team. Your tiger is the fourth member of their animal’s pack.
They have been waiting a long time for you. ”
Liam and Cathal came over to Aiden and gave him a big group hug, jumping up and down with him in the middle.
“Welcome home brother! Now there will be three against one! Finally.” Aiden grinned at Liam, glancing at Killian who stood close by, his arms folded across his chest. Killian gave him a nod and Aiden knew he had found his place after all the time wandering the world with only Bréagha at his side, and nowhere to fully call home.
That piece in his heart that was always empty was now full.
He sensed more than felt Makani join him again and he reached his hand out for Makani to rub against.
“We’re all connected now.” Makani roared and something clicked in Aiden, a place that always felt wrong and unsettled inside of him. He looked up and saw Liam and Cathal grinning at him. He could feel them!
“Can you hear me?” It was Liam’s voice in his head, and he nodded, bewildered.
“But how is this possible?” Aiden “pushed” his thoughts out to the others, instinctively.
“You’re a part of my team, so you’re now connected to us.
If any of us need you, we can reach you wherever you may be and vice versa.
” Aiden’s eyes flew to Killian who gave him a rare grin.
“We can’t read your mind; you have to telegraph your thoughts to us but yeah, no matter where you are…
no matter what world you are in, we can find you now.
” That feeling of being home solidified into a warm glow in his heart and he couldn’t help the bright smile on his face.
He would never be alone again, on an even deeper level than what he always shared with Bréagha.
His eyes flew to hers, the smile despite the tears in her eyes told him she understood.
“I hate to interrupt this reunion, but we’re losing the light, and we still have someone waiting for her animal,” Isadora gently reminded everyone and they all moved away from the circle.
Liam’s leopard and Cathal’s lion sat down in front of their Sentinel, so Aiden and Makani joined them.
Killian walked up to stand on the other side of Aiden while his dragon moved to stand behind everyone.
Then they waited for Bréagha, everyone excited to see what animal soul chose her.
Even the soul-bonded animals didn’t want to leave the area so they could witness it.
Bréagha’s hand shook a little as she stepped up to the middle of the circle and the arch, like Aiden had done. She smiled weakly at Isadora who tried to reassure her with her own smile.
“What if I get a dodo bird or something? Is that possible? Or an opossum? Oh no, I can totally see a raccoon seeing me and saying that is so my soul mate! I mean raccoons are cool and badass, but I’m not sure I want to be soul-bound to one.
” Donegal couldn’t keep his laughter in, and Isadora shot him a look.
Sometimes her brother acted like the weight of the world was on his shoulders and at others he was just as bad as the kids.
She shook her head, then stepped up to Bréagha to reassure her.
“Whatever animal soul chooses to bond with you will be perfect for you. As far as I know, only apex predators usually soul-bond. You see, these animal souls protected their pack or their people in such a brave way that they were animal Sentinels in their own right. As badass as raccoons are, I’m not sure they’re badass enough to be an animal Sentinel.
” Isadora clasped Bréagha’s shoulder as she gave her the explanation, hoping to calm her down.
It seemed to work as Bréagha took a deep breath and nodded.
“Okay, good. Okay, I’m ready. Give me your best shot.
” Isadora moved back to her place next to Donegal as he began the chant.
She watched Bréagha carefully and when she knew she was really okay she joined the chant, closing her eyes and calling for the animal souls to come and choose Bréagha as their Sentinel.
Bréagha watched as the smoke from the thurible floated down around her and thickened, like she saw it do with Aiden.
She felt it close above her head, just as it did, a bright red light shot out of the sky and slammed into her.
She felt like she had been hit by a bonfire torch, her entire body feeling like it had been set aflame.
The smoke around her from the sphere turned red reflecting the fire that was surrounding her.
She screamed when she felt the consuming pain as the flames burned through her.
She felt her feet leave the ground, her back arching as she screamed and screamed. Then darkness.