The Siege of Kadenburg by T. E. Ridener Page A

to. It’s what Urseth wants.”
    “Urseth?”
    “Well, yeah,” Liam stared at her as if she was crazy for even questioning it. “You don’t think he watches over us?”
    “Well, how am I supposed to know that?” Presley said in defense. “All I know is that the guy made us.”
    “It’s so much more than that,” Liam promised as he reached out for her hand and wrapped his fingers around hers. “There’s so much you need to know, Pretz.”
    There was a blinding flash of light, and before she could make heads or tails of what was happening, Presley found herself in a very familiar place. Why did Liam bring her to the spot Breslin Connor killed her father?
    She quickly removed her hand from Liam’s, taking a step back.
    “Why are we here…?” She asked quietly.
    “Because there is much you need to learn.” Liam responded gently. He glanced around the wooded area, sighing.
    “I don’t want to learn anything right now,” Presley pouted as she stared at him. “All I want to do is dream and wake up refreshed. It’s not easy being pregnant, you know.”
    “Oh, that’s right,” Liam beamed as he perked up at the mention of her pregnancy. “I get to be an uncle.” His smile was sad though, and it instantly made Presley feel bad. What she wouldn’t give to have Liam around in the land of the living.
    But it still didn’t make much sense as to why she could see him now, or why they were talking in her dream.
    “You have many questions, young grasshopper,” Liam teased as he stepped ahead of her and gazed at the tree that was forever scarred by fire. He reached his hand out, gently touching the burnt bark before glancing at her again. “I’m going to try to answer everything I can.”
    Presley nibbled her lower lip, clasping her fingers together as she dropped her gaze to the ground. It seemed so much clearer here; somehow nicer than in real life. Crisp and beautiful, as dreams often were when one needed to escape reality.
    “Do you know why I can feel what others feel?” She finally asked after a moment.
    “Yes,” Liam nodded, his brown eyes focusing on her. “It’s because you are a very special type of ursithrope. Not many are given the gift, but it seems Urseth deemed you fit for the cause. You’re an empath, Pretz. You can feel what they feel and trust me when I say it’s not a bad thing.”
    “But I feel their sadness,” she frowned. “Their anger….their hate; I can feel it.”
    “I know,” he nodded. “But it isn’t horrible. There are only so many ursithropes in the world who are blessed with certain gifts. I possessed the gift, too.”
    “You were an empath?” Presley’s eyes widened. “Did you parents ever know?”
    “Nah,” he shrugged. “I guess I didn’t see much of a point in telling them that. Then again, they never knew I liked guys back then either.”
    “Neither did I,” she admitted with a small smile. “Why didn’t you ever tell me?”
    “Pretz, I never even told Lorcan,” he said in a more serious tone. “There were certain aspects of my life that I liked to keep a secret. Dimitri was probably my biggest secret of all,” he sighed. “But I was planning to tell my parents. I wanted everyone to meet him at the right moment. I just never got that opportunity.”
    “I’m so sorry.” Presley whispered, unsure if she was supposed to hug him or something. She wanted to. She wanted to hug Liam and spend time with him, though it hardly seemed fair. Didn’t Lorcan deserve this opportunity more than her?
    “Lorcan dreams of me often,” Liam promised with another gentle smile. “I check in on him all the time. He’s doing well. He’s got you now. Besides, even if Lorcan wanted this ‘opportunity’, he’d never be able to see me as you do. You possess the gift-he does not.”
    “So what are you trying to say? Am I a medium or something?”
    “Kind of, but no. I wouldn’t call you a medium. You’re just a very special ursithrope. You know how Lorcan