“I was scared.”
“The great General Titus scared of what?” Her tone’s mocking. It’s her defense.
“You know of what?” I bark. “Don’t make me your enemy again.”
Her eyes roam over my hold of her. “You’re right.” Her chest falls as she steps free, keeping her eyes downcast. “I didn’t mean to attack you. It’s going to take me time to adjust. I went from seeking your death to keeping you alive. Two sides of the coin. I keep forgetting to stop flipping it.”
Her final words are a hushed whisper, water poured onto ice, cracking the frozen surface and letting the truth seep into her hardened heart.
I tug at the collar of my armor. “Adjustments don’t have to be fast. Some take time, like reforging iron to recast it. Eventually, we’ll fit.”
Our eyes lock for dangerously long. It’s like the sun shining directly in your eyes; you think you’re strong enough to endure it, so you keep staring. We don’t see the red flags. All we see is blinding white.
Light is a trick. It gives the illusion of gravity, causing you to walk towards it. But remember the trick: we have no idea what’s hiding within its rays. It could be a beast or a savior.
Oh, how I want to let my heels dig in and my toes spring forward. I’m not afraid of monsters. I’m terrified of the other option—because saviors don’t just save. They create bonds. Unbreakable ones, wrapped in love and devotion.
Saviors are weavers. Every emotion is a thread they use to craft a garment they cloak you in, one that makes you feel safe, seen, and loved.
There is something else happening here. I part my lips, ready to ask Selene, but she looks over my shoulder at the door. It’s cracked open in case my guard needs to come to my rescue, but from where we are standing, he can’t see us.
“Can you maintain the time-weaving for a few more minutes?”
“I can try.”
She bites her lip and nods. “There are two pressing things we need to do, Titus.”
Her tone holds the severity of a commander ordering a soldier to go to the front lines. Unforgiving. She avoids my eyes because she knows sending me to the front—ignoring whatever the heck is happening between us—might kill us both.
Step back. Take another step, you idiot.
I need to get laid. It’s been too long.
That explains the source of this built-up sexual energy. Selene’s beauty overwhelms me.
“Only two?” I counter. “I think you need to retake math. I can count a dozen issues we discussed this morning.”
Yes! Score!There’s that timid smirk she’s scared to show in fear someone will carve it off.
“For now, yes.” She crosses her arms. “One, we need to train your time-weaving magic. It can’t wait; the mystery surrounding the runes and the Vitalis can. No one can find out you possess fae magic, Titus; that is a death I can not save you from.”
“I agree.”
“We need to figure out how the magic works. Does it respond like vampire magic or fae? Does it feed on blood, similar to your fire magic, or require rest to charge?”
“It’s blood-based. When I deprive myself of blood, the time-weaving doesn’t work.”
“Can you go without blood?”
“Yes,” I answer. Not every vampire can. “But not being attached to my fire magic within the castle makes me vulnerable. So, I’ve been having a small sip of my morning rations. It’s enough to give me a minute of fire magic if I need it. Unfortunately, the time-weaving feeds off it, too.”
“It was wise to allow yourself a little. Reflexes and a sword won’t save you in this castle. Sometimes, nothing will.”
Her chin tips up as she looks around her room. Old memories dance sadly in her eyes.
“I am sorry about Everett.”
“Please,” Her exhale sounds like it’s being forced through the crack of a door. Painful and desperate to escape the room. “Stop saying that. What’s done is done. This is what Everett wanted. We must play our parts.”
