Page 58 of The Immortal’s Mark

“My sister.” She settles on the edge of the bed.

Gregory claims the chair by the door. He props his elbows on his knees, and his eyes bore into me.

I keep my attention on Eshe, “I didn’t know you had a sister. Was she younger?”

“Older by two years.”

“And she was the more nurturing one?”

Eshe’s features warm with a memory. “Without question. Nebet was the best of us.”

“I always wanted a sister,” I admit. “Or any sibling, honestly.”

I had a great childhood with Dad, but it would have been nice to have someone else to grow up with.

At least I had Kayla and Kevin.

A pang hits my chest.

I hope both of those relationships will mend with time, but I have no idea how. Especially while I’m trapped in the middle of this Immortal conflict, unable to see or talk to them.

An amused lilt enters Eshe’s voice, “I had three siblings, and let me tell you, it can get pretty crowded. I tried to spend most of my time outside of the house rather than be suffocated by Sabaf and Ruia.”

I tilt my head at the unfamiliar names.

“Sabaf and Ruia are—” She stops, then corrects gently, “were my younger brothers. They were twins.”

The small, quick shadow that crosses her face twists my heart.

“Two brothers and one sister,” I repeat back. “Did Lome ever meet them before⁠—”

Cue putting foot in mouth.

“Before we were wed?” she finishes for me.

I nod.

“Nebet and I actually met Lome the same day. Well… We both saw him the same day, but I met him first.”

My brows knit together. “What do you mean?”

“I was outside doing chores by the river near my house,” she says, tucking her legs up on the bed and wrapping her arms around them. It’s the most relaxed I’ve ever seen the stoic Immortal look. “Lome appeared and introduced himself after noticing me in the market.”

A wry twist finds her mouth. “He had to go out of his way to find me. I was not the most social girl in Alexandria.”

I’m not surprised.

“So Lome saw you somewhere and then engineered a casual run-in? Classic stalker.”

Eshe actually laughs.

It takes all my effort not to let my jaw drop.

“I found him strange at first, but you know Lome. He is charming. He slipped into my family’s life like he’d always belonged.” A wistful look flows into her dark eyes.

“My brothers adored him,” she adds. “My father, too. Even Nebet could not believe I’d been so fortunate to catch his interest.”

I don’t move. I don’t even blink. I don’t want to interrupt any of the information coming my way. I’m eager to learn more about the mysterious Immortal.