Doppelganger Blood Read Free Page A

realm without people knowing?  It shines brightly on the surface of the water, like a lighthouse in a storm.  From above, it can probably be seen a mile away.
    Seeing the awe on my face and following the direction of my eyes, Kallen reads my mind.  “Only those with magic can see them.” Quieter, he says, “It will feel different travelling through a passageway you did not create.  You may feel ill afterwards but it will pass quickly.”
    Well, that sounds like fun.  I try to keep the grimace off my face as we near the light.  I remember Kallen telling me the passages were where there is light.  My mother named me with consideration of these lights.  Xandra Illuminata, protecting men from light is what my name means.  I guess I was a little too literal in my thinking.  I took Kallen’s words to mean anywhere light shines a passageway can exist.  Unfortunately, that’s not the first thing I’ve been wrong about in regards to magic.  You would think my list of things I do not know would be decreasing, but it still seems to grow larger every day.
    When we reach the passageway, I’m not sure what to do.  Do we just jump through like we do when I create a passageway?  Or do we have to say some sort of magic words?  The latter, apparently.  Taking my hand, Kallen pulls me in front of the passage and says the words, “Oscail an doras.”  The light becomes blinding for a moment and I need to shield my eyes.  Kallen tugs on my hand and pulls me through.
    He’s right, this is nothing like the passages I create.  We do not swim from the Merpeople realm directly into the Fairy realm.  Instead, we are sucked into a vacuum.  I feel as if it is trying to pull my stomach and intestines out through my ears.  I’ve never thrown up from my ears before.  I don’t think it will be pleasant. 
    After what seems like hours, the vacuum spits us back out.  It does not spit us back out in water.  Nope.  We tumble onto the forest floor.  Well, I tumble.  Kallen lands on his feet and is trying really hard not to laugh at my less than graceful landing.  On my butt.
    “That was horrible,” I say, swallowing back bile.
    Kallen loses the battle with his laughter.  “You get used to it.”
    “I think I’ll stick to my way,” I grumble, taking his hand and letting him pull me up.  Looking around, I ask, “Where are we?”
    “About a mile from the village,” he says.  “It is a fifteen minute walk home.”
    “Walk?!” Taz exclaims.  “You try to drown me then pull me through the bowels of the universe and now you want me to walk?”
    After swimming as long as we did , I agree.  I shake my head.  “I’m beat.”  Keeping a tight hold on his hand, I teleport us back to our bedroom in Isla’s mansion.  Taz grumbles his way out onto the balcony to dry his fur in the sun.
    I give Kallen a kiss before saying, “I’m going to take a quick shower to get the saltwater off my skin.”
    “Good plan,” he says with a lustful grin.
    So very tempting.  But, I shake my head.  “It wouldn’t be a quick shower with both of us in there.”  I hope he can see the disappointment on my face mirror ing his.  “We need to talk to Isla and Dagda about all the evidence pointing to me being the one who killed the Merpeople Queen.”
    Instantly, his face sobers.   “Perhaps we should ask Tabitha to make sure you are not once again harboring extra souls.”
    My mouth drops open and I’m too stunned to say anything for a moment.  When I regain control of my facial muscles, I say, “You think I did it?”
    Guilt flows over his face in bright red blotches.  “Of course not.  Not you , but maybe something inside you?”
    Afraid of what I may say to him next, I decide it’s time for my shower.  I stomp away, slamming the door behind me.  Kallen calls my name, but I respond by locking the door.  Yes, he can easily open it, but I know he won’t.  My dear husband is smart enough to not seek my company at the