Wandering Soul Read Free Page A

with her.
    â€œHave you seen a horseless carriage before?”
    â€œDesigns only. But promising work on many aspects of the invention is under way in several countries. I am sure we are on the brink of a great advancement. That is to say, those we have left behind.”
    Elsa wasn’t sure what he meant by that. Was it possible he had already figured out that she had brought him to another time?
    She was counting on him being able to adapt, but this seemed a little fast. Then again, she’d only really observed Dante during the biggest ups and downs of his life, moments when his emotions had been strong enough to leave an imprint on the ring he wore.
    Even after a century had passed, she felt the energy of those moments stirring in his ring when she bought it. She had been able to use their pull to travel back in time and witness his life.
    As powerful as that pull had always been, it was nothing compared to being in Dante’s actual physical presence. His touch was intoxicating. Addictive.
    Elsa needed to keep her distance. She was supposed to be helping him. Dante would be relying on her to guide him through his new life, his new world. It was her job to protect him, and the weight of that responsibility was only just settling on her shoulders.
    For a floundering moment, she wondered if she was completely out of her depth.
    â€œI do not know whether to feel obliged to you or fearful,” he said.
    â€œI prefer neither. I’m here to help you, Dante.”
    â€œYou know my name. I am afraid you have me at a disadvantage.”
    â€œI’m Elsa. Elsa Sinclair.”
    â€œDante Lucerne,” he said.
    â€œI know.”
    After a brief silence, he said, “May I ask you some questions, Miss Sinclair?”
    â€œPlease, call me Elsa.”
    â€œVery well, Elsa.”
    Hearing him say her name sent a shiver down her spine. She rubbed her arms to tame the goose bumps running wild along her skin.
    â€œPlease, take this.” He took off the cloak and handed it to her.
    â€œThanks.” She folded the cloak on her lap.
    She could see him better now, though not as well as she would like. He was staring at her, and her stomach started doing flip-flops. Riding backward in the limo turned the sensation from pleasant to nauseating. At this rate, she’d wind up getting sick on the side of the road.
    â€œI’m sorry, I can’t ride backward like this.”
    She crossed to the other side of the limo, sitting as close to the window opposite him as she could. She put the cloak on the seat between them as a reminder to stop touching him. She wanted to reassure herself that he was okay, that he was really here with her.
    â€œAre you all right?” he asked.
    â€œIt’s just a little motion sickness.”
    â€œI can hardly feel that we are moving, yet we seem to be passing the lamps at quite a speed.”
    He was reacting well to the things he’d already figured out. Elsa hoped he would react as well to what she was about to tell him next. It was one thing to make the leap from horse-drawn carriages to cars. It was quite another to hear someone talk about time travel.
    The nausea returned full-force as she recalled the last time she’d told someone about her ability. She shoved the memory ruthlessly into the back of her mind. This wouldn’t end that way. Dante would understand.
    She let herself put her hand on his arm, drawing his attention from the view out the window. His skin was so warm.
    â€œI understand this is confusing. Please trust me. I think eventually you’ll be very happy here. It just might take some getting used to.”
    â€œI imagine so,” he said.
    â€œI have something that will help.”
    Elsa glanced around the seat, searching for the book she’d brought along on the development of automobiles. Since they’d be starting off in a car and he had seen carriages, she thought it was a good way to ease him into believing