“Thought you already knew that. Kind of figured you planned on it.”
“I just…didn’t think…” He stopped there, trailing off. Not trusting his voice to stay steady.
That’s a lie.
I knew, didn’t I?
Knew all along that she was just a fever dream.
Something a monster like me had no right to touch.
No right to cling to.
Zarrek took a breath and let it out in awhoosh. He crossed to Kailorien’s side and slapped a hand to his shoulder.
“Resh, there’s nothing I can tell you, brother. I can’t pick your path for you. Either you send her off or you keep her with you.” He paused, and his next words were cold, lifeless. “Either way, you’re going to lose something. So, what’s it going to be?”
Kailorien turned to glare at his Second.
“And I have to accept that?”
Zarrek’s eyes widened.
Kailorien didn’t break eye contact as his voice lowered. With each word, he heardthe divine voicein Auryn’s silver eyes echoing behind it. Like a prophecy. Like blasphemy against everything he was.
“Why?” Kailorien ground out.
“After everything I’ve given…”With no memory of your true shape…
“After all the scars I’ve collected…”To a cause evenyoudo not believe in…
“Is someone going to tell me to back down? To abandon this without even trying?”A love you are doomed never to fulfill…
His hands clenched into fists. He stood, his spine straight, the runes on his chest, back, and arms flaring to life.
Not blue.
Not red.
Hotter.
White.
Like her magic.
Like her starlight.
“Iwill not.”
Zarrek straightened. He looked deep into Kailorien’s eyes, so deep Kailorien saw the light of the Reskala runes carved into the warrior’s being. They’d fought side by side for decades. Zarrek knew his Commander better than Kailorien knew himself at times.
At last, Zarrek’s arms fell to his sides. The grizzled warrior reached out his hand. “Then I won’t, either.”
Kailorien gripped his forearm with firm strength, and Zarrek returned the hold in kind. The warrior’s clasp—firm, braced, knotted with years of shared hardship—spoke more than words could.
And then, wordless as ever, Zarrek pulled him into a short, sharp embrace. A warrior’s bond. Fierce. Brief. Final.
No more needed to be said.
