Pine Needles (Veil Realms Series) by Karli Rush Page A

sweep my eyes over everything, from the trees, to the ground, and to the other plants as we travel by briskly.
    My sight filters things more dynamically, much more in-depth, I have a perfect view of a living being several yards before me. The vital quiver of their beating heart almost hypnotizes me, but Sirius’s strong gait pulls me from my infatuation.
    My fingers curl firmer around his as he leads us onward, nearing a clearing where the path splits in two different directions Sirius points to his right he announces, “Over there is natal Alltrite and Sispin fruit, if you ever need nourishment and I am not with you, then these fruits are safe. Nevaeh prepared a drink for you, she used the Alltrite and Sispin fruit. They are extremely tart and combining them together becomes more intoxicating as you consume it.”
    I glance over to the left, a grove of pine trees span out and the translucid veil shimmers between the columned pines. “What is over there?” Inquiring him as I aim my finger towards the pine grove, his hand clasps mine while he evenly views over me.
    “Nothing.”
    Tugging my hand behind him he urges me to follow. “Come, we need to keep moving.”
    I peek back over my shoulder as we step up our pace and watch as the shapely pine trees disappear behind us. We continue weaving in and out of the thickset shrubs and low-hanging vines. The fallen hefty branches break like a twig under Sirius’s feet. I stumble and side-step over the remnants of his trail. 
    A large thorn covered leaf impede s his way, but he roughly pushes through without noticing. I reach out not wishing to have its thorns against me but before I touch it, the overgrown leaf moves as if of its own accord and yet it didn’t.
    Bewildered , I extend my hand out to the next leaf waiting for its thorns to pierce my skin and to my skeptical eyes the leaves swing back out of the way by some physical force. Mimicking the same movement with my hand I thrust it forward along the path.
    All the plants, limbs, and enmeshed vines blow back out of our way. Without warning Sirius stops dead in his tracks and turns to me. “Selene?”
    “Sirius?” My emotions rocketing, is it possible to push something without touching it? Is this normal for their kind? Will I go mad like the others Nevaeh has spoken of? Sirius and I stand in silence and I attempt to make my tone with dispassion.
    “I don’t know how… I—”
    “Do it again.” His command isn’t customarily in how he would behests to others, and I can sense the prospects reaming in his glistening sublime eyes. I hold out a hand, and flicker the leaves back and forth as I exert out and then withdraw, worry festers inside me as I rub my hands. I chew on my lower lip and boldly decide to demonstrate the movement again like a puppeteer for a moment longer. I drop my hands to my breasts feeling my breathing increase I steal an anxious look up to him. “Is this an aftereffect from the conversion?”
    “It is another armament Selene, the beings from the other realms bear many and so shall you.” He takes several long strides back from me and my brow furrow tightly together as I question him, “Sirius, what are you doing?”
    “Adjudging your protection, now center yourself, and control our distance.” He maneuvers his massive body around, pacing like an enslav ed and hungry animal. Locking his sight onto mine he suddenly charges toward me.
    Dread and fear siphons all thoughts from my unfocused mind, as his unflinching warrior form nears. I do the only thinkable thing I know to do. I whisk around and scamper in the other direction. The vines that scatter about have my balance working over-time. Tripping, my body gives way and instinctively I roll close to a tree and toss up my hands. Sirius slams back and counterweights himself within my next rattled breath.
    He reaches down and picks me up around my waist as he places me once again on my two feet he leans closer he admonishes, “You were not