I stared at my brother, allowing his words to sink in, giving my mind time to catch up with his plan. “You love her?”
“I—not necessarily. I mean, I do as a friend. I’ve always cared about her. And I know she’s in no position to even consider anyone but Cyrus. I was that way myself after Anna…but it would give her a better life, an easier time, and maybe someday, if things go well…” He trailed off, his cheeks tinged pink.
I stared at him with open abandon, probably rudely, but I couldn’t help it. I never thought I would hear Warren talking about moving on, about building a future with anyone but Anna, even if it was just with a friend. But if there was anyone who understood what, precisely, Dahlia was losing and how long it might take for her to recover enough to even consider anyone else, it was Warren. And perhaps that alone made them a decent enough fit for one another.
“That’s very kind of you, Warren,” I told him carefully. “But, as a friendly warning, Dahlia will never accept you if she believes the offer to be made out of pity or obligation.”
“Right. I know. That’s why I haven’t asked yet. That, and I don’t want to push her. But I wanted you to know.”
I nodded and swallowed the lump in my throat. It was a good, solid plan. It made perfect sense. It was practical and generous, but something about tying Dahlia to our family forever, something about knowing I’d have to look into those familiar blue eyes for the rest of my life, that there would always be a reminder of him around this house—in this family—gave me pause. I loved Dahlia. But I wasn’t strong enough to face her.
So I stood, still nodding.
“Adrian?” Warren asked, frowning.
“I have to go,” I blurted. “Dante is expecting me for training.”
I offered a brief farewell, then fled the house that now belonged to my family. I jogged down the steps and breezed through the front gates, right past the girl with the strawberry hair who called out my name behind me.
Chapter Eighteen
“It is in facing the unknown that one’s character is truly tested. Real strength is greeting uncharted waters with a confident smile.”
-Journal of Chasina, 488 Genesis Age
Iavoided Warren for a while after our conversation, though I sent him a letter, which Bria helped me write and would have to read to him as well, to reassure him that I wasn’t upset with him and that what he was doing for Dahlia was incredible. But still, I stayed away from the house. I had no right to decide who he married or what Dahlia decided. And I wouldn’t have objected to the plan even if I could. I knew I was being foolish, but I could hardly stomach being around Darius’s family anymore. They reminded me so much of him that my heart ached whenever they were near. Which is why my brother’s disclosure of his perfectly rational plan had nearly destroyed me.
Are you going tonight?
Dante had stayed out of my mind for everything but necessary communication since we’d won the fourth Trial. I’d been practicing keeping him out of my every thought but knew I failedto do so more often than not. He hadn’t mentioned it again though. He could tell I was going through something, and I could tell he was too. Nearly dying tended to do that to a person.
He hadn’t asked what had happened to me. For that, I was grateful. He seemed to understand, better than anyone, that certain things were just better left alone.
Of course I am,I replied.
I wasn’t sure since…
Since I’ve been avoiding my brother?
Silence. I sighed and laid back on my bed.
We’ve been busy with training.
Adrian.
Alright. Maybe it’s time I settled things between Warren and me. It isn’t as though he did anything wrong anyway.
He hesitated, and for a moment I thought he might ask what had happened between us, but Dante just said,I’ll meet you there. Grandfather has some work for me to do here first.
I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me, and forced myself to rise from my bed.
I went to my closet and threw it open, taking my time selecting an appropriate outfit. Something casual but without any holes or patches, something that was fitting my new status without being overly obnoxious of the fact that I’d moved up in the world.
My new status...I hadn’t quite gotten used to that yet.
I settled for some faded jeans and a long sleeved black shirt. Probably not the most elegant ensemble, but it was just a birthday party after all.
I made my way down to the Second Ring without any trouble from the guards. Some of them even nodded as I passed. Word about mine and Dante’s latest success had gotten around enough so that no one ever asked who I was or where I was headed anymore. It seemed the whole of Sanctuary knew I was a girl from the Third Ring, recently promoted to the Second, who waspartners with a boy from the First. I could practically move freely about Sanctuary in a way I’d never been granted access to do before, and not many of my class ever had.
