Emanate: Insight Series ((Insight) Web of Hearts and Souls) by Jamie Magee

trees around the Radiance. Inside the flower, there is what looks like a dagger. Myth says the flower opens and the dagger stabs the Earth and brings forth new life.
    I had the dagger shap e on my chest; Willow had the flower on hers.
    Myths all stand for something tangible. Willow ’s heart was to open to mine, and we would bloom, then die in order to create a new life for our people.
    “I can always burn you ag ain and see where that gets us. Maybe it will take the mark away, buy us some time.”
    “ It’s not going away. Too many people believe in it.”
    What makes any spell or myth powerful is the energy souls put behind the words they are created with. An entire dimension believed without a doubt that I was to be ar this mark. This would have to be resolved before it ever went away, just like all the other spells around us.
    “Do you?”
    I shrugged. “I did when I was a kid. When I didn’t think it was me. I did not too long ago, as well. I’d be fine with it now if we didn’t have all these other issues swarming. I’m pretty positive this deal is part of the Saturn trial, but I’m not clear on what the next spell is that Donalt has us all wrapped up in—if it’s at these borders, then the Veil is involved, the dead are.”
    Phoenix ’s gaze grew grim. “This is one of the spells I created without you.”
    My gaze locked on his. Back in the da y, he met Skylynn first. He tried to save her first. He failed, and she was pushed further back into the supernatural trap she’s in. He let me in on what was going on with her right after that. At that point, we both tried to save her.
    “Skylynn?” I breathed.
    “Don’t get all crazy on me. This is my deal, and it happens to back up to something Draven is working on. You can’t throw your energy in with this one. Not a good idea.”
    “Because of our past?” I asked as my vivid memories showed me exactly how many times and in what ways Skylynn and I crossed a line that should have never even been considered.
    The regret was sickening , which was why he was telling me to stay out of it. More than likely, Skylynn was told to stay out of it, too. Emotions are energy. Energy is power. Energy is revealing, too. It shows all your dark little secrets, no matter how well concealed they may be.
    According to lore, if this deal with Chara we nt down, Willow would see every sin I’d ever committed when I was a raging, blind fool. I’d see hers, too; every time she and Drake were flesh-to-flesh in the past. My skin boiled at the thought of it.
    One n od from Phoenix, telling me I was right.
    “I promised I’d help her…”
    “That you did, mate. And the only way to do that right now is stay away. Draven and I are working on a few things at once, but basically I ’m trying to get it to where Skylynn’s boy can see her. If you’re in this mix, because of the past you had with her, it could bypass him, and then you would be the only one that could see her—and call me crazy, but I don’t think Sunshine would be good with that.”
    “You’re telling me to sit this one out, only focus on the ceremony?”
    “Not if it’s going to hurt you. I’m here to figure out if I need to get you somewhere, figure some way around this, along with what we have going on.”
    I barely heard what he said . Out of nowhere, for no reason, pain slammed into my core and rage stabbed through me. I lunged forward in a blind attempt to react.
    “ Whoa! What’s going on, mate?” Phoenix said, looking at me like I was a fool.
    My eyes moved in every direction as my mind tried to catch up. The anger faded just as fast as the pain. Willow’s image kept flashing in my mind , but that didn’t make any sense. She was safe in Chara, sound asleep when I left two hours ago.
    I took in a deep breath, trying to understand where that came from, then all at once my soul settled.
    “I thought something was wrong ,” I muttered.
    “Is it all right now?” he asked as his eyes moved all