Healing His Soul's Mate by Dominique Eastwick

bites of her chocolate cake with enthusiasm, she pushed the remaining part around her plate. Ashlynn wanted to cheer her for telling her mother off, to plead with her not to let the old hag affect her, but who was she to talk? Their mother had her master’s degree in finding the right barbs to throw and knowing where to aim them. No doubt she worked up a string of them now.
    “Ashlynn,” Cyrus said, a friendly smile curving his lips, “I believe you have a busy evening of relaxation ahead of you. First reflexology and then deep breathing with Trixie.”
    “Dana didn’t eat, even the cake.” She twisted her napkin, worry for her sister seeping out. “She only took a few bites.”
    “Ash, I’m fine. Exhausted but okay.”
    “You have nothing to worry about. The staff always ensures your sister has what she needs. Most of the time before she asks for it. She is, after all, our family.” Cyrus helped Dana to her feet and wrapped a brotherly arm around her. Smiling at Ashlynn again, he led Dana from the room.
    “Your sister will be fine. It’s been a hard day for everyone. And one Rekkus and, I think, many on the island have been dreading,” Shade assured her as the pair escaped from view.
    “What do you mean?”
    “Rekkus has done his best to keep your family away.”
    “He has that.” Ashlynn wondered now if Dana’s lack of communication with anyone in the family had been at Rekkus’ insistence. After all, with one phone and one computer conveniently guarded behind the front desk, how hard would it be for him to prevent her from contacting anyone? Jessie came back to visit, but hadn’t she said the last visit had been at Rekkus’ request?
    “Rekkus can act overbearing at times but remember when she arrived here, raw, hurting, and depressed at your mother’s rejection? The woman Rekkus met had been broken down.”
    It made sense. “How would you know any of this?”
    “Their souls speak to me.”
    Cemil started coughing so loud one of the wait staff brought him a glass of water.
    “Their souls as in the force within them?” Ashlynn inched away a bit in her chair. What kind of healing could this man be here for anyway?
    “Yes, you see—”
    “Right…okay. I think I am going to head on to my reflexology appointment.” Throwing her white napkin down in surrender, Ashlynn pushed back from the table.
    “Can I escort you to your destination?”
    “No thanks.” Before Shade could stand, she worked her way through the maze of tables and out the door. She stayed focused on the hallway before her. Bummer Tall, Dark, and Handsome was quite whacko. Just her luck.
     
     
    “What just happened?” Shade asked no one in particular. Her soul, open and receptive, had, in a matter of seconds, slammed shut to him.
    “It could be because she has no knowledge about anything to do with the para world,” Cemil said, shaking his head. “If you had acknowledged me when I began my coughing fit, you might have saved face. I wasn’t at all subtle in trying to get your attention.”
    “How can she still be in the dark? Her brother-in-law is a tiger shifter.”
    “Until today, Dana hasn’t spoken to any of her family since she left the mainland. No one took her calls or received her letters. Her mother, as you have discovered, is a force unto herself, and effectively disowned her.”
    “So they have no idea Dana, when she gives birth to the cubs, will take on the title of queen?”
    Cemil sighed. “I don’t honestly know if Dana is aware of the title, but I don’t think even knowing he is royalty would help the situation. I’m somewhat surprised you couldn’t assess all this on your own.”
    “Her soul, though interesting, isn’t what caught my attention.”
    “After one hundred and fifty years, your libido has reawakened?”
    “You make it sound like I never get laid.”
    Cemil arched a brow. Who did Shade think he fooled? “When did you last get laid?”
    “Seventy-five years, give or take a year.”