“This is your future,” the witch whispered to him once more. “I wish I could show you something more pleasant since you’ve been so helpful, but the potion tells only the truth.”
“That can’t be true,” he protested, mind-shouting at her. “Nina wouldn’t leave me like that.”
“But of course, she would. My dear Reddix, what do you think holds a Kindred and his bride together? What enables two people from such vastly different cultures—from different planets—to join as one? It is the life-bond. The mind connection that the Goddess grants to all her children when they become one in her name. Without it, they are too different to understand each other for long. Too disparate to make their love work. Without the bond, your love for Nina and hers for you will wither and die like a plant deprived of water.”
“That can’t be! I refuse to believe it.”
The witch gave a kind of mental shrug. “Believe or not, I don’t really care. But I warn you, the potion never lies-all that I have shown you is true. If you join with Nina and you are unable to bond her to you, she will eventually leave you. Not only will the lost love ruin your life but hers as well. She will be miserable all her days. That, Reddix, son of Redan, is your future and hers, if you choose to inflict it on her. And now, I release you to go your way.”
There was a brief, brilliant light, and suddenly, he could see again. Reddix blinked, looking around the witch’s hut, coming back to the real world. Nina was kneeling beside him crying and tugging on his arm.
“Reddix,” she choked. “Are you all right? Please tell me you’re all right. Please.”
“I’m all right,” he muttered, getting slowly to his feet. “It’s okay—I’m all right.”
“Oh, thank God!” Still crying, Nina reached up to touch his face. But she looked so much like she had in the evil vision the witch had shown him, he couldn’t help pulling away.
“I’m fine,” he said, taking her hand to keep her from reaching for him again. “Let’s just go. The gathering is probably already underway. Saber needs my support.”
“All right.” Nina gave him a bewildered look. “And…you’re sure everything is all right?”
“He is fine, my dear.” The witch smiled at them, her yellow eyes flashing pure gold for a moment.
“If you’ve hurt him for good—damaged him permanently in some way…” Nina glared at her.
The witch threw back her head and laughed—a shrill sound that seemed to pierce right through him. “Oh, my dear…he was damaged long before I did anything to him. But never fear, the momentary side effect of my potion is over, never to be repeated. Your lover should have nothing but a lingering memory to remind him of our little encounter.” She looked at Reddix meaningfully. “Farewell to both of you, warrior and…good luck on your future together.”
“You—” he began.
“Yes?” The witch smiled sweetly.
Reddix wanted to call her a poisonous bitch, but the words died in his mouth. There was nothing left to say. Nothing to do but go.
“Reddix? Is everything all right?” Nina was still looking at him anxiously.
“Fine,” he muttered. “Let’s just get away from here.”
They left the witch’s hovel and began the long slog back through the swamp.
But try as he might, Reddix couldn’t get the scene the witch had showed him out of his head. And he couldn’t help thinking of her words, If you join with Nina and you are unable to bond her to you, she will eventually leave you…She will be miserable all her days.
He didn’t have a working Touch Sense—there was no way he could bond with Nina. No way at all.
Chapter Thirty-two
“…and that is why I stand before you, declaring my intention to take my father’s place as OverChief of the Touch Kindred clans when he steps down,” Saber was saying as Nina and Reddix stepped quietly into the large auditorium. Like all the buildings she had seen on Tarsia, the large public space was spherical. It was also completely packed with important looking men Nina assumed were clan leaders, sitting at the front, as well as a huge number of regular citizens. The clan leaders were mostly older men, but she did see at least two that were Saber’s age. Everyone assembled wore somber expressions. Apparently the Touch Kindred took their public meetings very seriously.
“Great, it’s already started,” Reddix muttered under his breath. “Come on—I have to show my support for Saber.”
“All right,” Nina whispered back. She wished she could ask Reddix what was bothering him. Was it just the stress of the political rally and the uncertainty about his future role in the Tarsian government? Or was it something else? He hadn’t seemed the same since they had left the witch’s hut. Nina had tried to ask him why, but every time she said anything at all he snapped back a curt reply or else simply didn’t answer.