Read Shadow of Time - Book 1: (Paranormal Romance) for Free Online

singing were so beautiful and so fragile that she hardly dared to breathe. She didn’t want to make any unnecessary sound. He sang about returning seasons, birds and butterflies, and the dew at his feet on the trail of life.
    Ben was the first to break the silence when the song was over. “Wow, Josh, that was great. You’re really talented. I feel honored you wanted to sing this for us.”
    Josh looked up shyly. “I’m glad you liked it.”
    “I bet Sani is going to be on your case for changing the words of the prayer, though,” Emily said with a wink.
    “He changed something ?” Ben said.
    “Yeah, in the second verse. The original doesn’t feature butterflies.”
    “That’s right.” Josh carefully put the guitar against the porch railing. “I liked the lyrics better that way.” His gaze drifted to Hannah, who fell silent, remembering how Josh had compared her to a butterfly yesterday evening. But he couldn’t possibly have changed the lyrics of his traditional song with her in mind. That was absurd.
    “Shall I clear the table?” she offered, so no one would stare at the slight blush creeping up her face. “Let’s make room for the coffee and apple pie.” She started to clear away the plates, and was happy Emily got up to help her.
    “Who’s Sani?” Hannah asked curiously as she and Em were rinsing the plates in the kitchen sink.
    “You never met him?”
    “Not that I’m aware of, no.”
    “Well, I’m not surprised. He is our traditional medicine man, our hataalii .” Em’s voice dropped a notch. “Sani used to stay out of our clan affairs. That’s why you probably never noticed him when you hung out with us in Naabi’aani when we were teenagers. But lately, he’s been minding our business a lot more, ever since...” She hesitated. “Ever since Josh grew closer to him. Josh is also part of the Feather Clan. It’s been four years since things started to change, and it has to do with the special position Josh seems to have within the tribe, according to the hataalii. ”
    Ha nnah’s curiosity piqued. “So – what kind of position is that?” Apparently, Josh had gone through more than just one metamorphosis in the years of her absence.
    “N o one knows exactly. It all started when Josh came back from his vision quest. It’s common for a teenager to consult the elderly people in the village after returning from a quest, so nobody batted an eyelid when he went to Sani for advice. But people did raise eyebrows when it turned out he only wanted to talk to Sani, and refused to even speak to his grandparents about what he saw.”
    “And now what?”
    “Now? He’s just part of the community in Naabi’aani. But at the same time, it feels like he’s standing on the sidelines. Sani talks about him as if we should treat him with more respect than you’d expect for a seventeen-year-old guy from a normal clan. To tell you the truth, I’m a bit puzzled Josh still hangs out with Ben like nothing changed.”
    Hannah stared out of the kitchen window, absent-mindedly piling the plates in the sink. She didn’t know what to say.
    Emily sighed. “Look, it’s not like Josh doesn’t belong anymore. He’s still part of us, of our clans, but he’s just ... different. Sometimes it’s like Sani interferes in his life too much and doesn’t allow him to be a teenager anymore.”
    “ But I don’t see any awkwardness between you and Josh. You seem to be relaxed around him.”
    “That’s because I’m not on the rez now. I feel free here, and Josh is more relaxed outside of Naabi’aani too, though he does tense up occasionally.”
    True – Josh had suddenly been miles away when she asked him about his birthmark last night. What had that been about?
    Emily coughed. “I can’t help but notice that Josh is different around you , though. Not as relaxed as with Ben. He looks at you. So intently.”
    “You noticed, huh?”
    Emily smiled faintly. “Well, I’m not blind, thank you very much.” She