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I rubbed at the spot over my heart, a considerable ache having formed there.
Despite what he had done, my heart held love for him. That much was clear. But then again, the heart beating in my chest—it wasn’t entirely my own, was it? It came from Aurelius himself, so it just made sense that it would feel love for him, because it was apartof him.
But what did that mean for me? It had once felt love for Von, as well, which made me think that it wasn’t completely just Aurelius’s heart, but perhaps part of it belonged to me too.
Did I feel genuine love for Aurelius, or was it because my physical heart had once belonged to him?
There came a knock at the balcony door.
Kaleb.
I set the cup down and hurried over to the door, greeted by one great big smile.
I beamed. Creator above, it was good to see him. Quickly, I let him in and closed the door against the howling, pushy wind, trying my best to keep out the crippling cold.
“Not a nice night for flying,” he said, shaking off the snow that had accumulated on him. In doing so, he reminded me more of a playful puppy than a sleek, stealthy bird.
“No, it doesn’t look like it,” I replied warmly, walking back over to the map. I wanted to show him the hidden hallways and see if he could investigate them for me.
Kaleb tagged behind. “Because I know you’re going to ask . . . no, there hasn’t been any change in Von’s condition.”
I came to a sudden halt and turned around, my mouth flopping open like a fish out of water—where do I even start with this one? How do I tell him that we had been wrong about Von—that he had just used me?That he had lied about—
“How did you get rid of the collar?” Kaleb asked, his question catching me off guard, but effectively keeping my mind from spiraling.
“I think you’d better sit down. Much has changed since we last spoke.” I gestured to one of the chairs.
He pointed to the cup of tea. “Okay, but first can I get a cup of that? I’m freezing.”
“I don’t think you want what’s in there,” I chuckled. “I’ll make you something else.”
His gaze darted to the cup and then to me, a question forming on his parted lips, but he just shrugged and said, “Okay.”
And that, right there, was why I loved Kaleb.
. . .Take note, Aurelius—that was how you respected a woman’s privacy.
“I’m sorry, sister, but I don’t buy what you’re selling,” Kaleb said. He sat in the chair across from me, his arms crossed over his chest, his posture casually defensive.
After I finished telling himeverythingthat had transpired since I last saw him, we started hashing things out.
That was well over an hour ago now.
I let out an aggravated sigh. “Kaleb, it’s the truth. I saw the memories—Von took away my ability to create and he did it to cause friction within my marriage. He used me as a tool to get back at Aurelius. That’sallI was to him. His phantom more or less confirmed it.”
“If that’s all you were to him, then why would he be willing to trade his life for yours? Give up his realms for you?” Kaleb snipped, tossing the words back at me. He shook his head. “He wouldn’t.”
“Who knows why he did that. If there is one thing I’ve learned about Von, nothing he does is just cut and dry. There’s always a motive behind his actions—”
“Exactly!” Kaleb cut me off as he leaned forward.
I took a deep breath, feeling my frustration quickly mounting. That wasn’t where I had been going with my point. I fumbled for the right words, looking for the best way to articulate what I was trying to say.
“Look, I get it, Sage, you’re dealing with a lot right now.” Kaleb left his chair, and positioned himself in front of me, kneeling. He scooped my hands in his—a trait we had both picked up from Ezra. “You are essentially living two lives right now and trying to figure out who you are—mortal Sage or immortal Aurelia. And everything that was of comfort to you has, well—” He let out a withheld breath. “It’s been taken away. Ezra’s not here. I’m not—at least, not as much as you probably need me to be. Von is gone, and in his wake, all you have are these shitty memories returning of him. Nothing in your life is comfortable right now.”
His words struck an emotional chord.
I tried to fight the tears I had been holding back, but one slipped out. And then another.
