1
AERIN
Aerin Tolvare throws her entire bodyweight into a punch aimed at her brother’s throat. When it lands one of two things will happen: either Bruin will come at her twice as hard, or he will yield.
Her fist hits the target with crafted precision. Bruin pays the price of being distracted, clutching at his throat, coughing.
“Fuck,” he wheezes, holding a hand up at her advance. “I yield.” He drops to the mats below them, laying on his back, chest heaving.
The early morning sun drifts lazily through the high windows of the gym, casting the large space in a warm glow. Soft music and Bruin’s breathing are all Aerin hears. Sweat coats her skin, hair clinging to the nape of her neck. She wipes it away with a towel before starting in on Bruin.
“You’re sloppy today.”
Bruin Tolvare glares up at her from his spot on the mat, though there is no true hatred in his gaze.
Looking at Bruin is a bit like looking into a funhouse mirror. Like seeing herself, only slightly distorted. Both Tolvare siblings have classic Fae markers: ears that come to points, long canineteeth, and towering height. They share high cheekbones, lithe noses, and sharp jaw lines. They both bear tanned skin, thanks to the ever-present Southern sun, and have long warm blonde hair. Though, the true marker of their heritage is their eyes: golden in color, lined with dark lashes.
There is no mistaking them as Tolvares.
“Maybe you’re just better than me,” Bruin quips, sitting up and leaning back on his hands. Aerin cocks her chin and raises her eyebrows at him.
“We both know you beat me every time when your head’s in it.”
Bruin’s been distracted all week, and worse, he’s been evasive whenever Aerin brings it up. She knows something is worrying him, and yet he continues to keep her in the dark. Troubling, when Bruin is the only Tolvare Aerin can stand.
More than that though, he’s her best friend. Her confidant. Her safe place. The only thing that stands between Aerin and their father: the King of their City-State, Valtara.
“So? Where has your head been?” Aerin probes, nudging Bruin’s ankle with her foot.
Pulling himself to his feet and ignoring Aerin’s question he says, “Father wants to meet with you this morning.”
That’s about the last thing Aerin wants to hear. She snatches her small bag off the floor at the edge of the mats more forcefully than necessary.
“Tell him I’m busy,” Aerin retorts, digging around for her phone, if only for something to do. Despite the early hour, she has plenty of notifications, all of which she ignores. Instead, she opens her music app, scrolling to find something to listen to on her way home.
“This is serious, Rin,” Bruin hedges, adjusting his own bag and pushing open the gym doors as they walk out.
“And I’m seriously busy. I have midterms.” Aerin shrugs, pulling out her headphones.
Aerin loves Bruin, she does. He is all the best parts of her. All the strong parts without any of her recklessness or anger. Instead, Bruin is level-headed, kind—the perfect True Heir to Valtara, and one day he will lead. Their eldest sister, Cisera, will be his closest advisor. And Aerin? She will be long gone.
She never wanted to be a Tolvare anyways.
“Rin, come on,” Bruin hedges, grabbing her arm. His golden eyes search hers. Her brother looks tired, deep bags under his normally well-rested eyes. His hair, tied in a bun at the back of his head, needs to be washed, and his stubble is about two days too old. “Just go see him, for me.”
Usually, this would work on her. For Bruin, she’d do almost anything.
Today she asks, “Why were you distracted during sparring?”
Bruin, to his credit, doesn’t flinch. Doesn’t give Aerin any hint of what, exactly, has been keeping him up at night.
“I’m just tired,” he lies.
Shrugging his hand off, Aerin shoves her headphones in her ears.
“If you’re just tired, then I’m just busy.” Aerin turns away from him, starting off in a jog towards her apartment. She distantly hears him call after her, but she doesn’t turn back.
Aerin sticks to the edge of the road as Shifters on their early morning commutes take up the center, sprinting in their animal forms. Lions, Fawns, and Rabbits all barrel by at dizzying speeds they make look graceful.
