She expected Lauren to be pissed. What she didn’t expect was for the guard to say, “It’s aRoyal’seternal mate.”
Rory’s mind took a second to catch up to her words. “What?”
Lauren turned and beckoned Rory to follow her into the living room. “AnAeternumis aRoyal’seternal mate. Two souls made for each other at the same time.”
Rory let the information sink in. Caius said she was hisAeternum, but it was impossible. “Caius is hundreds of years older than I am.” She wrinkled her nose. “It’s weird that I am—wasin a relationship with someone hundreds of years old.”Especially when they look like sex on a stick.
“Who else would he have a relationship with?” Lauren asked. “His siblings are the only other immortals, and seeing as you are the only person he can marry for life, that leaves him no choice but to date a woman with asignificantagedifference.”
“It’s still odd,” Rory muttered. “But if our souls were made at the same time, how am I only twenty-five?” A thought occurred to her. “Have I been alive before?” Cora read about this once in a book.What was it she called it?“Reincarnated?”
Lauren smirked. “Reincarnation doesn’t exist in these realms.”
Her wording irked Rory.Did it exist in other realms?“Then how is it possible?”
Lauren shrugged. “Your soul rests with Moira until your mate needs you the most.”
Who the hell is Moira?“How can we share dreams?” There was more to being anAeternumthan Lauren was saying, and Rory needed to know everything.
Lauren leaned back and crossed her legs with her arms spread wide along the back of the couch. “When you are both asleep, your souls meet in a soulscape. To simplify it, you share a dream that’s real.”
Rory thought back to Caius’ hands on her and shivered.It felt real, all right.“And what else?”
“When one of you is in danger, the other will get a vision. You see through the other’s eyes.”Would Caius be in danger in Vincula?“Aeternumsare born with grey-scale sight, and when they meet their mate, they see them in color. Skin-to-skin contact lifts the grey-scale sight permanently, confirming the bond.”
Touching her cheek, she frowned as a memory tried to push through.Red. “The bowl was red,” she whispered.
Lauren dropped her arms and straightened. “What are you talking about?”
She chewed on her lip, unsure where the words came from. “I don’t know, but there was a red bowl. I think.”
“Caius thinks because you areSeraphim-blessed as anAeternumthat it’s possible the memory magic doesn’t work the same on you,” Lauren commented, more to herself than Rory. “I think he’s right.”
Rubbing her eyes, she groaned. What a mess. “Why was I released early?”
Lauren hesitated. “That is not my story to tell.”
“Cora had grey-scale sight, too,” Rory said, standing. If she’d fallen for his lies, she would never forgive herself. “Was she his realAeternum,and I took her place after she died? Did he really kill her?”
“No,” theAngelsaid quickly as she rose from the couch. “She was not hisAeternum, and he didn’t kill her, but that is something I can’t explain to you. You need your memories back; otherwise, you’ll do something stupid.”
Rory bristled. “You don’t know that.”
“Yes, I do,” Lauren countered with a snort, making Rory purse her lips.
Irritation bubbled in her chest. “Either you can help me get them back, or you can stay here while I do.” She brushed past Lauren toward the kitchen for a much-needed coffee.
“Open the front door,” Lauren said to Rory’s retreating back.
She regarded theAngelas she rerouted to the foyer and opened the door.
Lauren followed behind her and pointed outside. “Throw your attitude out, and then we’ll talk.”
She stood stunned before laughing. When she regained her composure, her shoulders slumped as she massaged her temples. “I’m sorry, Lo. This whole thing has me on edge.” She looked at Lauren’s shocked expression and realized what she said. “Why did I call you Lo?”
TheAngeldebated internally before gesturing for Rory to followher outside. Lauren stood in the front yard, and within seconds, shifted into a murderous-looking panther.
Shrieking, Rory pressed herself against the front door, but recognition quickly replaced her panic when she met the panther’s gaze. Lauren shifted back and waited.
