~Kaida Orion POV~
The tiny green shoot will not sleep, It curls out of the cracked seedpod like a question and keeps leaning toward me, toward the heat of my skin, toward the pulse at my wrist. I should be tired...my eyes burn...but I cannot lie down. The root-ling hums, it hums like a nerve, and it hums like a call.
Lupus stands in the doorway, half in shadow, cloak loose over his shoulders, he has not slept either.
"You're still watching it," he says.
"I'm afraid to blink," I answer.
He comes closer, the root-ling tilts toward him, then toward me again...as if choosing, he frowns.
"It knows you," he says.
"It knows us," I whisper.
It hums again, and I hear it in my bones. I hear it! I hear it! I hear it!!
We do not wait for sunrise, Lupus sends Loita running for Councilor Biat, the Moon Priest, Rachael, and Morgan. We meet by lamplight in our private chamber, no ceremony, no chairs, just floor cushions, boots, and urgency.
