One of the immortals walked in.Her face was hidden by the dark hood she wore.The chakram strapped to her side gave away her identity.Meraki, if he remembered correctly, Khalida’s second-in-command.Unlike the other guards, she didn’t sneer at his presence, but there was no mistaking the gaze of contempt she sent his way as she looked him over and surveyed the room.
Recognition flickered through him as he stared at the guard for a heartbeat too long.She had always been hidden by the shadows or wearing her hood when she had guarded him.And he had never seen her face before, but now, he was kicking himself for not recognizing the subtle signs.
He clenched his fists.Forcing himself to not give anything away, an erratic heartbeat and both of them would think he was about to flee.Or attack.
In every lifetime, she always had the same color eyes.The same shade of copper.
Atlanteans didn’t believe in reincarnation or the afterlife, but that didn’t stop the whisper of bittersweet memories from wrapping around him.Fragments of dreams and lifetimes that shouldn’t have existed.Two lives cursed for an eternity.And only he ever remembered.
“You can leave.Chaucer won’t attack me,” Sypha softly ordered as they dusted nonexistent dirt off their pristine white floor length dress.Lace gloves covered them up to their elbows.He hadn’t even noticed Sypha enter, too distracted by Meraki.
It was enough time for Chaucer to remember where he was and what he was supposed to be doing.
Meraki opened her mouth but quickly shut it.She stood up straight and stared at the two of them.“Three minutes,” she told Sypha before turning to him and looking pointedly at his arm.She met his gaze.“You are being watched.”
Sypha walked towards the plastic table and sat.Chaucer followed, letting the silence grow between them.What game was Sypha was playing?
“I have never been able to read your future.It has always been blurry, as if you were protected.”
“Or because I didn’t have a future,” Chaucer finished for Sypha.He leaned against the chair and waited for Sypha to continue.
The silence grew louder between them.
“You have a choice.Two potential paths you can take,” Sypha whispered.“Which side will you choose?”
Chapter Fifty-Eight
TALIK
House Azaes Arx, Egypt
Lord and Lady Azaes Mausoleum
Talik stood at thedoors of the Azaes family tomb, his hands entwined with Khalida’s.After all this time, he was going to be able to say goodbye to Sidra.The yellow desert he had once hated was far more comforting than it had been in a long time.
A proper farewell, fitting the child she had been.He and Khalida would be able to keep her memory alive.Sidra may no longer be with them, but she would always be a part of them.
