“Kieran filled us in.”
“Oh,” I murmured, wondering when that had happened. Had it been before Stonehill or more recently? It felt like there was so much I hadn’t been present for. “I guess it’s good that only the weather…” My lips pursed. “And the path of the sun has been affected.”
“Yes,” Delano said. “Onlythe path of the sun.”
The way he’d said that made me laugh. “I suppose I shouldn’t phrase it that way.”
His gaze slid to mine. “You know I’m dying to ask abouther,” he said, his voice dropping to a whisper.
“Seraphena?”
His eyes glimmered with interest. “Yes.”
“Go ahead and ask,” I said, welcoming the diversion.
“How was she?”
“She was…” I paused, struggling for an appropriate adjective. “Casteel would probably say temperamental. I would say blunt. And…” I trailed off again with a frown. “Okay. Maybe a little temperamental.”
Delano’s eyes widened.
“Toward Casteel,” I quickly added. “They had moments of…misunderstanding. But she was actually nice and not what I expected.”
“What did you expect?”
“An…ethereal being in a flowing gown,” I answered after a moment. “But she was dressed like I am and had a mouth to rival a dockworker.”
Delano grinned at that. “She sounds…normal.”
“Surprisingly so,” I said. “She mentioned that she couldn’t linger in this realm for long without causing thenotamto revert back to her.”
“I’m not surprised to hear that. I could feel it here,” he said, unfolding his arms and touching his chest. “Right next to yours.”
Curiosity rose. “Does it feel different? Mynotamand hers?”
His brow furrowed under the edges of his hair. “Hers was…warm and fresh.”
“Fresh?” I stared at him. “Am I not fresh?”
“I didn’t mean it likethat,” he said, his lips twitching. “I meant…thenotamfeels fresh. Like the first winds of spring. Cut grass and lilacs. Light. Yours is more earthy and hot. Heavier.” His head cocked as my frown increased. “Unless you’re mad—like killing mad. Then, it’s…yeah, it’s something else.”
Maybe I shouldn’t have asked.
“It feels icy-hot then.”
“Well.” I took that in. “At least it doesn’t make you think of rot and decay.”
Delano laughed.
My lips tipped up at the sound, and I found myself taking in his profile. He was once more staring at the Dark Elms. My thoughts found their way to his sister. He never spoke of her. I didn’t even know if he had any other siblings. “Do you have a brother?” I asked.
“A younger brother. Ronan,” he answered, his faint smile fading. “And a sister.”
“Preela?” I whispered.
His eyes flew to mine, and then he let out a short laugh. “I shouldn’t be surprised that you know that. Did Cas tell you?”
I shook my head. “I knew she was Malik’s bonded wolven, but I didn’t realize she was your sister until I saw Malik with you in Padonia and spoke to him later.” I clasped my hands together, my throat dry. I hoped Delano didn’t know how she died and what had been done to her before Jalara took her life. Glancing back at the low table where the dagger remained wrapped, I took a deep breath. “Malik did tell me something else.”
