“A Novice? But doesn’t that mean beginner?”
“Yes, smarty. Technically, he’s a beginner until he learns it.”
He looked back at me and smiled. I smiled back and then lay back on the bed and listened to him while I thought about what to do about my dad and everything that was going on.
I hadn’t gotten very much sleep the night before. I went to bed after midnight and got up before seven. I hadn’t realized how tired I was. I felt so at ease in his room, so comfortable in his bed, peaceful and safe with him there. And I fell right to sleep.
I felt cold. I was shivering and my teeth chattered. I found myself in Caleb’s bed still but Caleb wasn’t here with me. I felt that ping of anxiety rise up at that thought. I heard the door creak behind me. I rolled over slowly to see a silhouette of someone in the doorway. I squinted to see who it was.
“Caleb?”
“You wish,” a deep voice answered me and I froze.
“Marcus,” I whispered. “How did you-”
“Poor little Maggie. You’re exhausted aren’t you? Caleb keeping you up too late?”
“How?”
“How am I here? Well, you went to sleep. And your knight in shining armor is banging away at his piano, oblivious.”
“What do you want?”
“I want you.”
“Caleb. Caleb!” I shouted. “Caleb!”
“He can’t hear you,” he sang.
“Oh, yes he can.”
I concentrated like I did before, so he could read my thoughts. I got it together and pushed it toward Caleb.
Caleb!
Marcus looked instantly peeved.
“I don’t know how you can do that, but fine. He won’t be right next to you all the time, little human.”
I felt warm hands on my cheeks and woke with a gasp to see a concerned face over mine. I panted as my heart calmed at his touch.
“Maggie, are you ok?”
“It was him.”
“I know. You sent me your thoughts. I saw him. Are you sure you’re ok?”
“Yeah. I’m sorry I fell asleep. You were playing and I was so tired and...”
“It’s ok. He didn’t hurt you, did he?” he said and caressed his thumbs over my cheekbones.
“No, not yet.” I was calm for the most part except Caleb was still over top of me. His legs straddled me and he rested on his elbows as his hands warmed my cheeks. Now I was getting breathless for another reason. “I’m fine,” I breathed.
He frowned and sighed. “I can’t protect you even when I’m in the same room with you,” he sighed again harshly and tried to get up, but I grabbed his shirt to stop him.
“Don’t. It was my fault. I fell asleep.”
“No, it wasn’t.” He let his nose touch mine and I breathed deep. “You did nothing wrong. I’m sorry. I’m just not going to leave you again until we figure this out.”I nodded which made our noses bump. His eyes closed and I closed mine, too. I thought, this is it, he’s finally going to kiss me...but he just stayed close, then his bedroom door opened.
“Caleb, your father said—Ah! Oh!” Rachel said, startled, and started to shut the door.
“Mom, wait,” Caleb said, scrambling off the bed to help me sit up. “It’s not that. She had an echo attack.”
“An echoling?” She pushed the door open all the way and it banged against the wall. “Oh, no,” she breathed and covered her mouth with her hands.
“Dad’s working on it.”
“Well, he said you were here and you’d be here for dinner, but he didn’t say anything about an echoling.” She shook her head and grimaced. “Are you all right, Maggie?”
“Yeah. I’m fine,” I insisted, but was no longer sure.
“Ok then, I’m going to go start some supper.”
“I can help—”
“No, honey. Thank you, I appreciate it, but you need to just stay with Caleb, ok? Just stay together as long as you can.”
She went out and shut the door behind her. I flopped back on the bed again and closed my eyes at the throbbing behind them. It was exhausting to worry so much. Caleb lay down beside me and I instinctively moved to my side to press against him. At first I was a little shocked at myself, but his arm came around to hold me to him just as instinctively.
It felt perfect, like it was right where I was meant to be.
“You’re always so warm,” I muttered sleepily and put one of my legs under his.
I heard him chuckle as he pulled a blanket over us from the end of his bed. Then he turned on his side facing me and wrapped his other arm around me.
“Just rest for a few, sleepy girl. I’m here this time. Nothing’s going to happen to you.”
“Thanks.” I moved my hand to rest on his neck and felt my headache ease away. “Maybe just for a minute.”
“Yeah.”
He kissed my forehead and I felt his smile against my skin. I smiled, too, as I drifted off for a completely restful sleep.
I woke later, who knew how much later, to voices in the room. They were hushed, but concerned, and I peeked up to see that Caleb was still asleep against me. Our arms were around each other and his face was right next to mine.
“I know all that, Peter, I’m just worried is all,” I heard Rachel say. “She’s so young, but it’s not like we can stop them. They need each other. I just don’t know how to control it.”
“You know Caleb has a good head on his shoulders. He’s responsible, he’s reliable, and he’s more careful, considerate and attentive of this girl than I’ve ever seen him with anyone.”
“Well, of course he is, but he never cared about that dating rule anyway—”
“He’s a nineteen year old college boy, Rachel. I guarantee you, he cared,” he said dryly. “He just understood. He saw the merit in it. If anyone in our clan deserved to be the one to receive this gift, it’s him. And I’m not just being biased because he’s our son.”
“I know. I know. I just remember being brand new with you.” She laughed softly and it startled me how girly and young she sounded. “You couldn’t keep your hands off of me.”
“I remember,” Peter said and I could hear the smile in his voice. “But they’re different. They didn’t know each other at all beforehand like we did. I’ve watched them together. Even though they feel the pull, they aren’t giving into it. They both have incredible restraint. Don’t worry about them.”
“But when I came in earlier...and now.”
“Sweetheart.” I heard shuffling. I assumed he was embracing her. “He needs to comfort her. They have to touch, they have to be together and after this echoling situation, he’ll have to sleep with her and be with her even more. I still haven’t figured out a solution without her angering her father, we’ll think of something. But, honey, they are soul mates. They are eventually going to be consumed with each other and there’s nothing we can do.”
“I don’t want to stop it, I know how it is and how it needs to be. I just wish I could convince them not to go too far, too soon. They are so young.”
“He loves her already,” he said and I fought not to gasp. “I can see it. That’s why he uses his restraint, Rachel. If he didn’t, he would give in to his urges because they are uncomfortable for him, and it wouldn’t take much persuasion for Maggie to give in, you know that. We didn’t have to use restraint; we were older and ready for it. They are doing remarkably well for being so young and unprepared for the overload of emotions.”
“You’re right. You are. He’s a good kid and so is she. I don’t think I could’ve picked a better person for him. She’s adorable and sweet. She’s going to be so good for this clan. Just what it needs to perk up a bit.”
“I can’t wait to see what their abilities will be,” Peter mused. “I have a feeling they’ll be spectacular.”
I felt the bed depress behind me and a hand on my leg.
“Sweetie.” She shook my arm a little. “Maggie, if you don’t get up and eat you’ll be late getting home.”
I roused slowly as she shook Caleb’s leg as well. He pulled me closer and nuzzled my head when she tried to wake him. I heard them both chuckle. She shook him harder.
“Caleb, you have to take Maggie home.”
His eyes instantly opened and he saw me, our faces almost touching. He smiled. “Hey. Did you sleep?” he asked.
“Yeah. Thanks.”
“Come on, you two,” Rachel beckoned. “Supper’s been ready.”
She and Peter left and I slowly sat up and stretched. I felt so much better it was like night and day. He sat up beside me and ran a hand through his hair so I did the same.
“No dreams?” he asked as he stood.
“Nope. None.”
“Well, I didn’t want to take all your dreams, just the bad ones,” he said softly and he lifted me by my hands to stand in front of him.
“I usually don’t remember them anyway.”
I couldn’t believe how refreshed I felt. How my body seemed to sing with contentment. I came to see it was Caleb. We’d had physical contact for who knew how long now while we slept. Both of us calming and soothing the other. It was actually good for me to sleep with him.Peter was right. It was pretty ironic that the thing I needed most was going to be the biggest fight with my father. I had no idea how to make it work, but I hoped we’d figure it out.