Soulless (Maiden of Time Book 2) by Crystal Collier

restraint obliterated.
    The realm they shared burst into light, and she skipped through it like a stone on water, diving deeper into him. Scenes whirled by her, some distinct and open, but some guarded by a smoky haze, as though cloaked in shadow.
    Strange.
    She pressed forward and parted a veil.
    His mouth tore away from hers. He stumbled back a step, nearly losing his balance. She reached to steady him, but he regained his equilibrium. His lips pressed tight, both hands cupping his brow.
    Kiren pulled his hands through his hair, catching on the blindfold. “Boundaries. We must establish boundaries for what is and is not acceptable.”
    She scowled. “Am I to understand that, as my husband, you will hold me at arms’ length? What are you so afraid I will discover?”
    His shoulders hunched inward. “I can teach you to shade your own thoughts.”
    Deflecting. Why was he always deflecting? Her fingers cut into her flesh. She whirled and started toward the church to find Ethel and return to the estate. Perhaps there would be no wedding after all.
    “Alexia?” He stumbled after her, tearing the blinder off and throwing his arms around her. “Please, dearest.” His eyes crinkled, the inner tides swirling with agonizing demons. She wanted to wash them away, to banish them to a moored island where they might never escape to torment the man she loved.
    The muscles in his cheeks twitched, straining to pull the corners of his mouth upward. “Ask me anything and I will answer, but give me time to open my thoughts.”
    “Anything?”
    He nodded.
    She lay her palm flat against his chest, over the medallion. “Lightning. When I was almost...” She swallowed. “Who brought the lightning? Ethel was crippled, Lester was gone, and Bellezza hasn’t the strength or I should have seen it before.”
    His grasp on her shoulders tightened uncomfortably. “I lost you once. I will never lose you again. You are my life, Alexia.”
    “ You summoned lightning?”
    He looked away.
    She worked to slow her breathing. “What else can you do?”
    “Nothing.” He caught her chin. “My gifts are limited to healing and reading thoughts. The medallion, however, is a weapon and can be used to call upon the forces of nature. I have never told anyone that for fear they would try to wrestle it from me, nor have I used it in that fashion save twice.”
    “Sir?”
    Alexia twirled.
    Edward stood in the distance, twisting his coattail. “Bellezza has vanished, and...”
    Kiren’s back straightened, his grip falling away from her arms. “Tell me, Edward.”
    The memory keeper’s eyes turned to Alexia, and he cleared his throat.
    Kiren’s forehead smoothed. “She will very soon be my wife and equal. Speak.”
    Edward scowled, continuing quietly. “Right before she disappeared, Lucian said the young lady debated turning you over to the Soulless.”
    Kiren’s brow tweaked. “She is always pondering—”
    “Not like this, sir.”
    He groaned. “Take Ethel and track her—after the wedding.”
    Edward scratched the back of his neck. “Perhaps it would be best if we rescheduled?”
    “No.” Kiren’s fierce eyes radiated a heat that sent waves of awe and excitement racing through Alexia’s veins.
    Edward’s jaw squared. “As you wish, sir.” He spun and crunched away.
    Bellezza would not be present. It shouldn’t have hurt, but Alexia’s heart pricked. She thought they had come to an understanding, that the girl would accept their union. Just one more absence to add to the number of people who should be here today.
    “I cannot wait to be yours,” she whispered. “But I do wish—” She stopped short. It was a cruel thought, and even crueler to state.
    He tipped her chin toward him, brows scrunched low.
    “Sarah.” The single word barely escaped.
    His nose flared.
    “She would have been present.” She choked on the rest of the statement. If she hadn’t been attacked by John, by the Soulless. Alexia blinked back a tear. He’d