The Soul Seekers: Horizon Read Online Free Page B

the force of it shooting toward me as it rolls off his tongue—emanates from the tips of his fingers. Its ferocity—its urgency—its absolute, undeniable truth
leaving me so startled, I can’t think of a single thing to say in reply.
    “Love, Daire. Love is stronger than evil. Love is the answer. Love is all there is. Love conquers. Love heals. Love unites. All you need is love. Love makes the world go round . .
.”
    The energy continues to swirl all around me, causing my head to spin, my heart to flutter—lasting only as long as Dace maintains his grip on my shoulders. The moment he drops his hands and
steps back, the illusion is gone. Leaving me sad, deflated, and more disappointed than I care to let on that while the sentiment sounds nice on the surface, it can’t be that easy.
    As much as I long to believe him, it’s wishful thinking at best and I can’t afford to fall into that trap. I’ve spent the last few months preparing to avenge my
abuela
’s death and rid the world of Richters once and for all. I can’t risk going soft.
    “Mmm . . . I’m pretty sure it’s money that makes the world go round. I’m pretty positive that’s how the song goes.” I guard my heart by deflecting his words
with a sarcastic reply, but as soon as it’s out, I flinch with embarrassment. The words ring unnatural and forced—stinging like a betrayal after all we’ve been through.
    I bite my lip hard and return to the search through my backpack, but when Dace grasps my hand, urging me to look at him, I can’t help but give in.
    His tone as serious as his face, he says, “Not our song. Not this song. Not the song of you and me.”
    He speaks with such conviction, I’m just about to yield, when I remember the lineage transmission Paloma gave me and the undeniable truth she revealed.
    There’s no disputing the facts that unfolded before me that day.
    Still, it doesn’t stop me from melting just a little when Dace pulls me toward him and presses his lips to the tip of my nose.
    “All you have to do is believe. Have a little faith. That’s really all that’s required. Miracles aren’t nearly as uncommon as people like to think. Leftfoot says
they’re manifested by love, and we’ve got that in spades. No reason we can’t work a few miracles of our own.”
    I soften my stance. Willing to concede that he just might be right. That it really might be as simple as that. Paloma always said that intent is magick’s most important ingredient. Maybe
if I just allow myself to believe hard enough . . .
    I shake my head and force myself to pull away. Force myself to say, “You work on believing, while I go work out.”
    “Skeptic.” He grins.
    “Optimist.” I playfully stick out my tongue.
    “You got time for coffee?”
    I shake my head.
    “Want a ride?” He swipes his keys off the dresser, jangles them before me.
    “Nah, I think I’ll run.”
    He lifts a brow.
    “May as well squeeze in a workout before the temperature has a chance to shoot into the triple digits again.”
    “You know it’s okay to take a break now and then?”
    I choose to ignore that. I can’t afford breaks. Can’t afford to let down my guard.
    “Fine. Then at least wear this to keep the sun off your face.” He tosses me a baseball cap advertising a surf brand. “And say hey to Axel.” He follows me out the front
door and down the rickety steps that lead to the parking lot.
    “At least
he
agreed to live with me.” I glance over my shoulder, wait for Dace to catch up.
    “The way I remember it, he had no where else to go.” He squeezes my hand, gives a good-natured grin.
    “And you’re not even the least bit jealous?” I angle my face toward his, catching the amused glint in his eyes.
    “You serious?” He shakes his head. “Jealous of Axel?”
    “Yeah, of Axel,” I say, feeling inexplicably defensive, but then my emotions are all over the place. “A single guy who’s actually pretty good-looking if you like tall,
strong,