13. Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Soul types are odd.

I sat on one of the many tables in the greenhouse as my Sunshine puttered around. He was quiet today, which wasn’t odd in itself—he was always quiet. But this silence was heavier than usual, and I didn’t know why. Maybe he was finally growing tired of my endless chatter. It had only been a couple of days, and I had a lot more words stored up.

With as much control as I possessed, I shut my mouth and stared at the plethora of plants around me. Colors ranged from pale greens, pinks, and blues to vibrant reds, purples, and oranges. Plants floated above me. The air had to be humid because of the beads of liquid gathering on Fyn’s scales and the plant leaves.

“Why did you stop talking?” Fyn asked as he skillfully transferred a snapping, biting plant to another pot without a single scratch.

“Hmm?”

Fyn faced me, tail flicking faster. I swear their tails were like barometers for their emotions. “Caleb, are you alright?” He abandoned his plant, stopping more than an arm length away. I wanted to hook my legs around his hips and draw him flush against me. I suppressed a lurch of sadness. It was what it was. No point in being upset.

“I’m fine,” I said, sitting criss-cross-applesauce, knees disappearing into several plants. “I was giving you a break from my talking.”

“I don’t mind it. I quite enjoy it.”

“You do?”

“It’s soothing.”

“Soothing?” I asked.

“Like the sound of wind in the trees or the crash of the waves.”

White noise. He thought my talking was like white noise. How complementary. It’s what every dude wanted to hear from their crush: you sound like white noise.

The smallest quirk tugged at the corner of Fyn’s lips before he tilted his head down and his silky hair covered him.

“You're teasing me,” I shouted, leaping down and crowding him. “Sunshine, you’re teasing me.”

He grinned. An actual fucking smile. A tooth bearing smile. Sultry heat slid down my spine like fingers whispering over me. So faint. So barely there. But it was enough to sear me.

His expression softened the longer I stared at him. I shifted closer, unable to help it. What was it about him? Why now? Why after wandering for so long did I feel something?

The door opened, and we both jumped. Seth peeked in, expression tight and face pale.

Fyn tensed. “Seth.”

“Hey,” Seth said, voice soft.

Where was Kal? He rarely left Seth alone. Like ever. Though I had seen Seth the last couple times without Kal, which was weird. The dude was obsessed, like obsessed obsessed .

“Be nice,” I admonished. “He’s obviously upset.”

“How am I to know? He's the first human I’ve met,” he said back.

“Because I just told you,” I snapped. True. Seth was the first human he had experience with, but he could be nice.

Fyn glared at me, and it didn’t upset me in the slightest. Instead, I liked it. A cute little divot between his eyebrows appeared and his full lips pursed attractively. I liked it way more than was healthy. But I was dead; I didn’t have to worry about my health anymore. Perks.

“Should I leave?” Seth asked, fidgeting like he was about to bolt.

“No,” Fyn said. “I was arguing with Caleb.” He waved Seth in. “I normally don’t allow anyone, even family, in here.”

Seth froze, as did I. Fyn didn’t care, or at least didn’t act like he cared, when I was in here. My romantic soul hoped it was because it was me, but in reality, it was probably because I wasn’t truly here.

“Are you sure I shouldn’t leave?” Seth asked, hesitating in the doorway.

“Come in, please,” Fyn said, and Seth slipped the rest of the way inside. “Where is Kalvoxrencol?”

“My thoughts exactly,” I said. “He never leaves Seth alone. Like ever. He practically stalks him. On the Admiral Ven…”

Seth started talking, oblivious to my chattering. “He’s fighting with your dad.”

“Why?” Fyn asked, head cocking.

Seth played with the zipper of his hoodie. I patted his shoulder, and he shivered, blinking. “Tell him I’m here,” I said.

Fyn frowned for the barest moment before he told Seth I was right next to him. Seth glanced toward me and smiled, but he shifted to the side.

“What’s going on, Seth?” I asked, and Fyn dutifully translated.

“I’m not sure yet,” Seth said. “Someone is insisting on meeting with me, and I don’t want to. Kal is protecting me.”

“It’s the priest people with the glowing Crystal,” I commented.

After Fyn told Seth what I said, he asked, “What are you talking about, Caleb?”

Even Seth was staring at me; well, in my general direction, but it so counted. “You saw the Crystal?”

“Yep.” I told them both about how I’d followed Monqilcolnen and the conversation I’d overheard.

My Sunshine crossed his arms. “That makes sense.”

“What makes sense?” Seth asked.

“You have the darkest warrior soul ever tested. Warrior and seeker souls grow darker with the pureness of their souls; whereas, spiritual and creator souls grow lighter when they’re purer. Warriors are important to drakcol, and you are the purest one in recorded history.”

Seth gaped at Fyn, and I was certain my expression was the same hooked-fish one like his. Don’t get me wrong, Seth was awesome, but why would he be the best warrior? And even if he was, why did anyone care?

Fyn sat down in the middle of the greenhouse and motioned for me and Seth to follow suit. After telling Seth where I was, he started speaking. “When we turn ten, we are tested by the Ranks to find out what type of soul we have. As I understand it, you humans do not have the same thing.”

“We don’t,” I piped up.

“Originally we were tested by touching the Crystal itself, but now we use a piece of crystal that connects to it,” Fyn said.

“Interesting,” Seth remarked, though he didn’t sound interested.

“It’s important to us. The Crystal has been a part of our culture longer than we have written history. How and when it was discovered has been lost to the ravages of time, but its significance has never dimmed.

“Warriors,” Fyn said, gesturing to Seth and himself, “are the most venerated because we were and still are, in many ways, a warring species. Royal children have always been warrior souls until Kalvoxrencol. His showing as a creator soul was quite shocking. Creators have never been valued because what did they contribute to war?”

I scoffed. Sure things like books and movies were unneeded, but war was fantastic. That sounded healthy.

“Spiritual souls are the rarest type, and they are treasured because of their connection to the Crystal. Seeker souls found their prominence with the rise of technology. But creator souls.” He shook his head. “Many question their value.

“But now Kalvoxrencol, the first royal creator soul, has a human mate who is the purest warrior soul ever tested in recorded history? Kalvoxrencol has the gift of light that was said to be the same inner fire of the legendary first Empress of the Drakcol Empire. Of course, they want to speak to you, Seth. You two are special.”

“Not really.” He tugged hard on the zipper, making the elements clack.

“You are. We believe Crystal-bound mates are two halves of the same soul. You are a warrior, and Kalvoxrencol has the empress’s gift of light. You are special. You can always speak to Monqilcolnen if meeting with the Ranks is overwhelming,” Fyn said.

“Why?” I asked at the same time as Seth.

“Monqilcolnen is the purest spiritual soul ever tested in recorded history. His soul is almost pure white. He didn’t join the Ranks as people assumed he would,” Fyn answered. “But he is still connected to them. He stays in the caves when he’s here, not in the palace, though he does have a room.”

“Caves?” Seth asked.

“Beneath the sanctuary is a series of caves for the Ranks. It’s the order’s headquarters.”

“That sounds like fun,” I said as thoughts of exploring the winding caves flitted through my mind. What did they have down there? Bodies? Catacombs always had bodies. I’d almost forgotten about the tunnels in my distraction of Fyn.

“Caleb,” Fyn growled in warning. “No.”

“What?” I asked, giving him my most innocent smile that Nana always said was fake as American cheese. “No one will see me.”

He frowned.

Seth laughed, and I started at the deep rumbly sound. He said, “You’re like Kal. He hates it when I’m away from him too.”

Fyn appeared positively struck; whereas, I beamed. I liked that. Fyn cared if I disappeared from his sight.

“Look at him,” Seth teased, glancing in my general direction. “I fucking shocked him.”

I chuckled, going for a high-five, but Seth didn’t see it. My humor vanished, and I lowered my hand to my lap, fisting it.

After Fyn collected himself, he said, “You don’t have to speak to anyone you don’t wish to, Seth. Kalvoxrencol will protect you, as will the rest of us.”

“Thanks.”

“You’re our brother.”

His eyes turned wet as he cleared his throat. “Thanks.”

I quickly told Fyn, “Talk about something else. I don’t know about Seth, but I hated crying in front of other people. It’s a human male thing.”

Sunshine stood. “Would you like to see my plants?”

“Yes,” Seth said, practically leaping onto the conversation change.

I followed behind them while Fyn talked about his different plants. He even snagged a tablet, showing Seth his copious notes on caring for each and every rare plant and hybrid. Seth and Fyn would become friends—I knew it. This way when I left, Seth wouldn’t be alone. Fyn smiled softly at one of Seth’s questions. Neither would my Sunshine. Neither of them would be alone.