Meet me in the Emerald Forest

Chapter 14 Clementine

"I swear, whoever is responsible for this is going to die." I rambled angrily to Bastian. He was stretched out on the ground and I was pacing in front of him. He looked up at me with an amused expression,

"Oh, you think this is funny?" I snapped at him.

Bastian jumped up and walked in front of me, tilting his head to the side.

"You know, this would be a lot easier if you could talk." I huffed and his eyes sparkled with laughter.

"I can, I just didn't want to freak you out." A voice echoed in my head and I jumped a foot off the ground.

"Uh...what?"

"I can talk to you in your mind, I just thought that would make you upset." Bastian's voice sounded eerily familiar.

"I've been talking to myself for seven years." I pointed out.

"Yes, and look at how close we've gotten without me even speaking." Bastian said, "You knew my name without me even having to say it.

"Yeah, how does that work?" I asked.

"You and I are connected, that's why I can come to you in your dreams. Our souls are bonded and, because of that, we can communicate without words. I can speak to you telepathically or simply through emotions." Bastian's voice echoed in my head but, instead of freaking me out, it somehow had the opposite effect.

"Our souls are connected? That doesn't make any sense." I scoffed.

"Yes it does and you know it. You feel it too, just like you've been feeling it with Lukas." Bastian replied.

"What does Lukas have to do with any of this?" I snapped in confusion, feeling like the only one out of the loop.

"I'll let him explain it once he wakes up. Just give him a chance, my sweet mate, and I promise we'll both give you the world. He has all the answers you need." Bastian curled up on the ground and rested his head on my feet.

"What did you just call me?" I muttered, looking down at him.

When Bastian stood at his full height, he was able to look into my eyes. Like this, curled up in a little ball, he seemed like nothing more than a puppy.

"I promise, it'll all make sense." He repeated.

"This is about whatever Mateo was talking about, too, isn't it? He said I needed to stay to help Lukas get better."

"Yes, it is. You can trust Mateo and Garrick, they care about you, too. Mateo has been looking out for you for as long as I have. Lukas' soul is tied to you and it needs you to be strong." Bastian's green eyes glanced up at me.

"None of this makes any sense." I grumbled and Bastian snorted as a way of laughing.

"It will and try not to be too mad at Mateo for having you sedated. He just didn't know what else to do to keep you here." Bastian added.

"Oh, I'm going to kill him for that." I said matter-of-factly. Bastian continued to shake with his wolfy laughter,

"Go easy on him."

"I can't believe I'm debating with a dog who's speaking in my mind. I'm going nuts, I should be committed." I muttered to myself.

"No, sweet mate, you're just a part of a world you don't know about yet. Just know, above anything and everything else, that you are well loved and protected." Bastian hopped up again and locked eyes with me, "It's time to wake up now."