Gemini (7 page)

"You already know the answer to that. I’m not trying to keep things from you.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. "You know, this isn't a great way to start off…" She inhaled a harsh breath. "Whatever this is.”

I diminished the space between us and picked up her left wrist.

Her hand trembled in mine.

I turned it over, exposing her Gemini Seal. Ran my middle finger down her palm, from her fingertips to her wrist, and traced along the thin line of the seal.

She stared intently as I brought her hand to my mouth and pressed my lips against her mark.

I held her hand and set it on my chest, allowing her to feel my heartbeat’s rapid pace, which unbeknownst to her, was becoming like her own.

Her body shuddered at my touch.

I desired so much to tell her. To share everything, but I couldn't. I could only hope my actions would give her the answers she sought.

"You can’t tell me anything?" Picking up my wrist, she rubbed her thumb in a circle over my Gemini Seal.

“I would like nothing more, love. But none of that matters. You mustn't focus on titles. Listen to what your soul tells you to be true." I gazed into her eyes. "We do share a connection, one deeper than any other. And an epic history, but it’s one that in time, you must discover for yourself."

"So, that’s it.” Her expression fell. “It’s all true." She appeared distraught at the news, and I must admit, it hurt a little.

I wasn't sure how much information the Firstborns had shared with her or even what their guardians had shared with them. But it was important for Zoe to choose me—to choose to love me of her own free will. That her decision not be muddled by a sense of duty to saving her Tree, or from loyalty to the Eternals and Firstborns whose lives would also be affected.

Her decision proved to Gabrielle and the Council that despite all the chaos and darkness in this world, love still remained, and humanity was worth saving.

It was an admission of love—one that must be made by her, alone.

"What or who you are is unimportant. It’s what’s inside your soul that matters."

Her gaze dropped to our hands.

"Your heart will lead you, love. When it’s open, it will reveal to you all the answers you seek."

"You sound like you’re a hundred years old.”

I could not hold back a laugh.

"Happy to entertain you." She pulled away. "So now what?"

"Spend time with me. Learn about us, and your heart will open to me." I placed my hand on her cheek. "In time. But first, you must learn to trust your instincts. Listen to your heart. Not your head."

I truly yearned to tell her everything. Zoe was my best friend. Keeping secrets from my Gemini pained me.

The answers she sought burned inside me—that if she didn’t choose me, the Tree of Souls would cease rejuvenating, and the remaining humans would bear soulless children. That evil would take over the earth, and death would come to all.

That I would lose her—my Gemini and Twin Soul—for all Eternity.

I longed to beg her to love me, but I couldn’t. I could only sit by, helpless. Plead silently that the imprint she said I had left on her soul would always lead her heart back to me.

"It’s not that easy. I don't trust anyone. Not anymore," she whispered, then turned away. "Not even myself."

I stood from the bench and faced her, placing my palms on her cheeks. I had to make her understand. Find a way to make her see how much I loved her, craved and needed her.

"You can always trust me, love. I know you have no proof. Nothing tangible. No memory of us, but I assure you, there is no one in this world who cares for you more than me. And if you give me the opportunity, I will prove everything. Then you’ll know you can trust me.”

She stood and faced the lake, her hands gripping the rail. "I've been abandoned by everyone who’s even claimed to care for me. Why would you be any different?"

I stood behind her, uncertain what to say. Do I comfort her? Pull her into my arms or give her space? I wasn't sure how to react, stifled with fear of doing or saying the wrong thing.

I couldn’t afford to get this wrong.

"I understand you've been hurt. Had there been a way for me to prevent it, I would have. If I could take away all the sorrow you hold within your heart now, I would. But I'm here now. And I’ll never leave your side."

Her head lowered, and I gently grasped her shoulders and tugged her back against my chest.

She wrapped her arms over mine and covered my hands.

I laced my fingers through hers. Kissing the top of her head that rested beneath my chin, I bent down and nuzzled into her ear. Her hair was soft and smelled of cherries.

"I will never allow anyone to hurt you," I said quietly. "You have to trust someone. Let it be me."

Her warmth hummed through me while she rested against my chest. She sighed and turned to face me.

"Please," I implored. "Give us a chance."

"This isn't only about us though. Is it?" Leaning back, she returned her hands to the rail behind her. "If this is all true, and I'm this Firstborn, then Remie was right. I'll have to leave the only life I've ever loved for a life I don't even know I want.

"And Phoebe. She's human." Her gaze grew heavy, her lips pressed together. "I matched her with Remie. How could I have been so wrong?" She pulled her hair from its band and shook her curls as they spilled over her shoulders. "I brought them together. And if he leaves, I’ll be responsible for tearing them apart."

Her eyes brimmed with tears.

"You mustn’t blame yourself." I moved closer, pulled her hands from her hair, and wrapped them around me. I cautiously tugged her into my arms. "You have a beautiful gift. You bring souls together. You must trust in those instincts. They won’t mislead you."

I understood much of her gift. As the original Gemini, it was strong and true. Never had she been wrong about a match, but neither had I witnessed her match a Genesis with a human.

From what I could tell, Phoebe was important to Zoe. Losing Phoebe would understandably be a concern. I would have to discuss this with Raz.

While I held Zoe, every nerve woke from its slumber. My heartbeat increased and a hum of energy surged through me. Just being near her was intoxicating.

I craved to kiss her lips, but I wouldn't. Not until she sought me to.

Until her body spoke to me.

"So what can you tell me?" She asked. "What's the plan?"

"The plan is you get to know me. The way all relationships develop." I released her just enough to look into her eyes. "We spend time together, and your heart will answer the rest. And when you so choose, I’m yours—heart and soul."

Although in time, she would understand that I already was.

"What's the catch? Other than giving up my life here? I need all the information if I'm going to make a decision this important."

"There’s a reason you can’t be privy to all the secrets of this life. This must be a decision based on your soul. No logic can go into choosing love."

Her eyes narrowed, and her irritation returned.

"Well in case you've missed the past millennium, people today don't just fall in love overnight. Life's not a Disney movie."

She pulled away, and I let her go.

Zoe was right. Unions in modern times were complicated. Raz said there were many variables humans took into account when choosing a mate, and Zoe, although the same soul, had different experiences during each incarnation. I couldn’t force her to love me or to choose our life together, as much as I wanted to.

Each of her lives was a lesson for me as well—in relinquishing control. All I could do was trust in her heart and our love. Trust her soul would return to me.

"Humanity is about choice. I would never force you to love me. And I would never choose my happiness over yours, but yes. I am hoping your heart will choose me."

Her breathing slowed, and her lips parted slightly, just enough to send my heart racing.

My Gemini mark began to pulsate. To burn.

I needed to kiss her.

She needed to kiss me.

After thousands of years loving Zoe, I could read her body as if it were my own.

Searching for what Raz called her tells, I first regarded her eyes. They were always the most expressive. They danced between mine, and my mouth. Her breaths became shallow. A pink flush spread across her cheeks as she inched toward me, shifting nervously between her feet.

Should I try?
Part of me was unsure, but my body betrayed my wits.

I’d waited twenty-one years for this moment.

I could wait no longer.

I moved toward her, inhaled her sweet scent, and rid the space between us.

Her eyes grew wider, and her lips parted. Waiting. I could hear her heart pulsing rapidly within her.

Her body gave her answer.

"My greatest desire is for you to find happiness." I stepped closer, picked up a long strand of her dark locks and tucked it behind her ear. Running my fingers along her jaw, I whispered across her cheek.

"You have no memory of a life before this."

I gently grasped her chin, stroked her bottom lip with my thumb, and edged toward her.

"But I've seen our life together."

I wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her closer, our lips now fractions apart.

Her eyes never left mine, and her body trembled in my arms.

"And I will always. Choose us."

Her breath breezed across my cheek as I pressed my lips to hers. Soft. Gentle. Trembling beneath mine. The tingling sensation I’d missed so much returned, running rampant throughout my body.

I pulled back, not more than a centimeter, to gauge her response.

Her eyes remained closed, lips parted. Waiting for my return.

I brushed a kiss gently, then deeper into her.

She allowed me to explore her soft lips. They parted further still, and I edged my way in, exploring her sweet mouth.

An intense force rushed through my veins, to my chest and arms. Her life force burned within every muscle. My body that longed for her was now alive from her touch.

Zoe fell into my embrace, letting go of all the tension she'd been holding. She enfolded her arms around my neck, pressed her chest against mine, and gently tugged at my hair. Her hands ran down my cheeks, then to my shoulders and waist.

She pressed her kiss deeper into mine, soft at first, then fervently, as if this was our last.

One block at a time, her wall was crumbling—the pain replaced with a longing for our love. Soon, her memories would resurface, and I would have my Chayah back. Our souls Converged as one.

Zoe broke our kiss, pulled back and gulped a breath of air. She opened her eyes, her body still quaking in my arms. A minute passed. Her gaze drifted up, and a single tear slid down her cheek.

"It's you," she whispered.

I placed my hands on her face, held her cheeks gently, and gazed into her emerald eyes.

“It's me."

Zoe

After leaving Cade’s apartment, I opted for the scenic route. So much happened, so fast, I needed time to catch my breath.

I found my Gemini.

And he kissed me. My first
real
kiss.

Sure, Eli and I shared quick pecks, but nothing like that. Nothing so powerful or passionate. So intimate.

I brushed my fingertips across my lips, reminiscing of Cade’s amazing kiss. His mouth exploring mine.

A sudden burst of tingles ran through me, settling in my Gemini mark. I turned over my wrist and stared at it.

I would revel in the moment as long as I could. Contemplate the outrageous vision I had the moment I realized this whole thing went way deeper than just this life, or the past twenty-one years.

It went back centuries, maybe more.

And it all started the day I died…

"Fear not, my love,” I whisper the best I can, my light fading away. “You will see me soon, I swear it.”

I close my eyes briefly and will my hand to move. I struggle but manage to raise it enough to reach his face one last time. He’s in pain. Fearful. Like me, but I must be strong for him. I gaze into his eyes, hoping my actions, replacing the words I cannot say, will give him some relief in my absence. Although I know it will not be much solace, it's all I can give him as I lay dying, my final breaths upon me.

“You’ve imprinted on my soul. I will always return to you…”

The memory of my death.

After Cade’s kiss, something stirred within me, and memories came crashing back.

The vision was so real, I could feel my life being sucked away. As if it were happening right then, a shattered emptiness consumed me.

But then I saw him, the look in his eyes. I felt his heart breaking. For us. And for me. All I wanted was to comfort Cade. Reassure him that I’d accept him when he came for me. I focused on his heart beating with mine to calm my nerves, and it worked. We were synced.

Twin Souls.

Now, even in his absence, I felt him with me somehow. We were connected. Bonded in a way I never believed to be possible, but there was no denying it.

That first Zoe’s words held true. Somewhere in my memories, maybe even my soul, Cade was ingrained there.

The rest of the walk home was torturous. Despite my mixed emotions about the weird epiphany, I was honestly, in a bit of shock.

Realizing all Sophie’s stories were true.

No more denial.

I still didn't know what my life held for me, or what being a Firstborn meant, but the vision of Cade's sadness as I lay dying crushed me. My first instinct was to comfort him. To protect him from his pain and shield him from mine.

It didn't make sense. If I was dying, why was I more concerned with him? Was that me? I never figured myself to be the nurturing type.

I don't know who I am anymore.

I took my time going home, knowing I wouldn't get much space at my apartment with the Genesis clan hovering. Although I now accepted Cade to be my Gemini, I had no idea how it would affect my career or my life.

Or everyone else’s.