Consequence by Shelly Crane Page A

future, they insisted on the old ways of doing things. They were beginning to let their fear sway them again and not believe in the Visionary. So the entire week was spent in meetings and debate instead of revelry and splendor as it should have been.
                  "Now, Caleb," Paulo began, and I heard Caleb's answer before it came. I winced.
                  "You've kept her cooped up in here, and Gran, too, for that matter, all week. A Visionary on the verge of withdrawals because she's working too hard and long doesn't sound like a Visionary that's able to perform at the best of her abilities."
                  One of them sputtered, "She's doing just fine. Perfectly adequate."
                  Caleb chuckled. "I have no doubt that she's adequate, councilor, but think of how great she could be if you'd let her be fully energized instead of keeping her constantly on a short leash. All of you." He took my hand and stood next to me, his shoulder brushing mine. "I get it. You want to look brave, set an example and be leaders for our people. You think that anything but diplomacy and matters of business and politics makes you look weak. But the very foundation of our people was built on the bond between two people. I think embracing that would benefit our people way greater than trying to fight it for some show of wills."
                  Paulo turned his ring on his finger. He missed his wife and constantly thought about her. They talked in his mind all the time. He had to know I heard them, but didn't care or knew that I was a sap to my core and wouldn't mind it. He wasn't brave though. No matter what he wanted for himself, he always went with the flow.
                  Always. And the flow of the council usually went with whatever seemed the hardest. Without waiting for whatever they were going to say, Caleb put his arm around my waist and started to pull me from the room. "No offense, gentleman, but you've kept her from me long enough. Go spend the last day with your families before everyone goes home."
                  Gran came and took Rodney’s hand quickly. "I've got him." She grinned haughtily. "And I've got Ava, too. Go on, pretty girl."
                  "Thanks, Gran," Caleb told her, throwing a grateful smile over his shoulder for her. We picked up the pace as we heard the minds of the council begin to stop being so flabbergasted and start to think of something to say to stop us.
                  We sprinted through the hall like teenagers and I found myself giggling, especially when we reached the stairwell to find Kyle and Lynne were there, too. Kyle smirked at my surprised face. "Oh, come on. Do you really think the Champion would be able to pull off a ruse like that without some help?"
                  I ignored him with a smile and looked up at my significant. "Where are we going?"
                  "Does it even matter?" he said lovingly and leaned down to kiss my forehead, resting his lips there. "Just don't ever stop touching me," he whispered.
                  "It really is stupid," Kyle muttered and looked at the air around us. The blue ribbons no longer just danced around us, they crackled. The power between us had gotten stronger over the years. Between me as the Visionary and him as the Champion, and the fact that they insisted on working us to the bone when we were here, when we finally did get together, it was like fireworks. If you got sympathy from Kyle, you knew it was bad. "They're just torturing themselves. I don't get it."
                  "Paulo thinks of nothing but his wife the whole time," I mused. "His mind isn't on what we're talking about. He's the worst one of all, yet he seems to be the worst flip-flopper." I leaned back. "I've searched their minds for some reason behind it. It seems almost like there was something else going on, but…I can't