Echo Soul Seekers

“I’m all up to speed.”
    “So, what happened?” I reach into the cupboard, searching for mugs that aren’t chipped. But not finding any, I’m forced to settle on four that bear the least amount of damage and wear.
    “Yeah, and is Lita okay?” Daire crosses her legs, distracting me with a quick glimpse of thigh I try hard not to stare at.
    “Lita’s fine,” Xotichl says. “In fact, she’s more than fine. I think she spent over an hour working the mistletoe line, giving away free, one-time-only Christmas kisses just to annoy him.”
    “And did it?” Daire’s face lights up at the thought.
    “Not in the way that she hoped,” Xotichl says. “Cade’s beyond jealousy. Though I do think it bugged him that he couldn’t control her in the way that he used to. He’s pretty much a control freak.”
    “So—that’s it? Cade showed up, Lita kissed a bunch of guys she’s known all her life, and the party ended normally?” I distribute mugs filled with coffee while apologizing for the clumpy sugar and lack of milk.
    “Pretty much,” Auden says, sitting beside Xotichl and clasping her hand in his. “Though he asked about you—about both of you.”
    “And?” Daire peers at him from over the rim of her mug.
    “And—nothing,” Xotichl says. “I blew him off. Said I hadn’t seen you.”
    “But it was weird,” Auden says. “He actually looked pretty happy about that.”
    “Yeah, he would.” I exchange another look with Daire.
    “And then what?” Daire leans against my chest when I move to stand behind her. “Did he stay—leave—what happened?”
    “Actually, it was weird. He pretty much spent the rest of the time talking with Phyre.” Xotichl takes a long grateful sip of her coffee.
    “What’d they talk about?” I rub Daire’s shoulders, noticing the way they stiffen at the mention of Phyre’s name. Leaving me to wonder how much she knows—versus what she might’ve guessed on her own.
    “I don’t know,” Xotichl says. “I wasn’t close enough to hear. But the energy they had going between them was certainly weird.”
    “Weird how?” Daire leans forward, her voice sounding worried.
    “Frenetic. Off. Kind of murky and gray-brown in color.”
    “You could see it?” Daire asks. “I thought that only worked with music?”
    Xotichl shakes her head, takes another sip of coffee. “Paloma is teaching me to see the color in all forms of energy. Music was just the gateway.”
    “Speaking of—” Daire grabs hold of my wrist and consults my watch. “I should get dressed and head back. I’m supposed to meet up with Jennika, so we can spend some quality mother-daughter time together.”
    “I’ll drive you, if you want,” Auden says. “I’m heading that way.”
    “And I figured I’d stick around and finally show Dace where the Rabbit Hole vortex is located.”
    “I don’t want you going there.” Daire pauses on her way to the bedroom, her words directed at Xotichl.
    “I figured as much,” Xotichl says. “But I’m not sure that’ll stop me.”
    “Seriously,” Daire says, refusing to give in so easily. “It’s totally corrupt. It’s too dangerous. Dace—promise me you won’t let her go with you. In fact, promise me neither of you will go.”
    I swipe a hand over my chin, purposely ignoring that last bit. “Have you ever tried to keep Xotichl from doing what she’s determined to do?”
    “I have.” Auden raises a hand. “It’s not pretty. My flower is a stubborn one.”
    Daire shoots me a warning look, but all I can do is shrug in response.
    I’m going in.
    Without Xotichl.
    Without Daire.
    Without anyone.
    Last night clinched it. Now that I’ve been with her again, I don’t ever want to be without her.
    I’m going to confront the prophecy and see that it’s done.
    And by the time I’m finished, Cade will be dead.

 
    thirty
    Daire
    When I get to Paloma’s, I’m not sure what to expect after staying out all night without telling anyone.
    At the very least, I expect they’ll be worried.
    At the very worst, they’ll be really, really angry.
    Though maybe not Paloma. As a fellow Seeker, her expectations of me and my comings and goings differ from that of the average grandmother’s.
    But Jennika? She’ll be in a frenzy for sure. My absence will hit all of her triggers. She’ll put two and two together and come up with three: Me + Dace = an unplanned pregnancy. Never stopping to think that I’ve got my own story to live—one that reads nothing