Read Online The Gate to Futures Past by Julie E. Czerneda - Free Book Online

Tal did the same to his left. If those fingers trembled, it merely spoke to their courage. He’d been right to ask for them.
    As for risking them? If he was right, Morgan thought grimly, these two might need his help as much as Eloe. No time like the present.
    He lowered his shields, inviting them in on their terms, not his. Their exploration was tentative at first, then grew bold. A little too bold, finding a moment of
heat
between Chosen.
    Far enough,
the Human sent, adding
amusement.
    Two pairs of eyes widened.
You sound normal.
A protest.
    Of course he does, Tal!
The sister gestured apology with her free hand.
Excuse my brother, Chosen of Sira. Take what you need from us.
The pair took firm hold of Morgan’s hands, dropping their own shields with shattering trust.
    He stayed clear of their thoughts. All he need draw upon was their Power, bonded to their love of Eloe, heart-kin to both.
    If only it had been thatsimple.

Chapter 4
    â€œY OU SHOULDN’T ALLOW THIS. It’s too dangerous, Sira.” Barac rubbed a hand over his face, uncharacteristically flushed. “I don’t doubt Morgan’s skill—”
    â€œNor do I,” I interrupted, stung by the reminder. That skill had repaired damage I’d done to my cousin’s mind and would always regret. “Stop fussing.”
    Offense wiped the worry from his handsome features. “I report a potential risk to you, Keeper,” he said stiffly. “As is my duty.”
    Because Chosen followed each other into death. Since his Joining to Ruti di Bowart, Barac had acquired an annoying air of superiority on the subject, apparently convinced Morgan and I treated our lives as casually as any unChosen.
    Far from it, but that wasn’t for anyone else to know. “Noted.” Relenting, I gestured apology.
We mustn’t lose any more.
    He nodded. M’hiray shared the gesture; the Om’ray Clans adopted it, slowly. What we did share was Choice and Joining, with its perilous permanence.
    Until my own, I’d known only the hunger. Like any—all—unChosen, I’d been incomplete. When my bond to my mother had snapped, strained by distance and overuse, something inside me, innate and wordless, longed to be filled. That mutual need brought Chooser and unChosen together.
    Since, I’d learned more than was comfortable about Clan Joinings. The Drapsk, a species who roamed the stars in ships crewed by vast tribes, studied the M’hir, which they called the Scented Way. They’d proved to me the existence of
things
in the M’hir able to cling to Choosers,
things
drawn to the Power-of-Choice used to test unChosen candidates—to kill them, if their own Power failed. The
things
consumed the energy released within that contest.
    Making us food, plain and simple.
    Or not so simple. My Human had taught me to look deeper, to assume anything alien could surprise, and what could be more alien than M’hir-life? The Rugherans were, yet weren’t at whim, plunging like giant fish into the M’hir, only to squeeze inside a starship corridor and bargain for what they wanted. Or what their world, White, wanted, for that was another disturbing truth about the M’hir. Some planets existed there as well. The Drapsk settled on them to fulfill their own desire to be complete; the planets themselves seemed to Join, one to another.
    The entire business being ridiculously erotic, discussing the topic with my Chosen most often ended in an enlightening lack of words. My hair twitched. Human and Clan were conveniently similar but we’d such intriguing differences—
    A thought to save for later, Witchling, if you don’t mind?
    I felt myself blush in earnest and couldn’t help glancing at my Chosen.
    Morgan knelt by Eloe’s bed, holding hands with Tal and Dama. His head was bowed in concentration, the muscles of shoulders and upper arms tensed. Eloe remained curled around the handlight, her eyes