Eve stilled. Her heart nearly kicked out of her chest at the truth. She thought the man had tinted his hair in that varied blue. She pulled back, eyes wide. “Is he related to Aerén?”
“His brother.” Exhaling roughly, he let her go. “Aethan was banished eons ago for the death of their little sister. It would have never happened had I not dared him into a useless fight. Ariana died. He was exiled. And I…”
“You did what? Did your family disown you?”
Derisive laughter left him, haunted blue eyes met hers. “No. The blame wasn’t mine, or so my sire insisted. I was to carry on like nothing happened…”
“But you couldn’t,” she said in understanding.
“No. I couldn’t live with that. I left.” He glanced at the studio. The pain in his eyes was like a clamp around her heart. The man in there meant a lot to Reynner.
“You left Empyrea to search for him, didn’t you?”
His lack of response told her what she wanted to know. And right then, Eve decided she would do what she could to help him.
“Reynner, you can tell me it’s not my business, but give him a chance—”
“Eve, stop.”
She pinned him with a firm look, determined to knock some sense into his rock-hard male skull. “No, you listen. Not often in life do we get second chances.Some people are afraid of what they might find if they delve too deep into themselves, so they build walls. But Reynner, you have to open old wounds to discover the truth. Once the bleeding stops, the healing begins.”
For a length of a breath, he simply stared at her. “Not for me, Eve. There can never be absolution for me.”
“I don’t believe that. But, you have to forgive yourself first.And I know you’re not a coward,” she said softly, accepting his scowl. “You will do the right thing. Or else you’ll leave another scar on your friend. He’s lived with the memory of killing his sister, but he’s made peace with himself. You’ve blamed yourself for something no one could have foreseen.”
“You have blood on your shirt.”
She glanced at the smears on her blue top, then back at him, refusing to let him distract her. “Reynner, to have a friend like him is rare. I have few, and I treasure them since…” She blew out a breath and pushed on, “Since not many like me because of my abilities.”
“Then it’s their loss—” He stopped when he realized what he’d said. “How is it that I’ve lived so long filled with self-hatred, and you make it all sound so simple?”
“Because you’ve been hurting for far too long. It’s time to let go and heal. Besides,” she added drily, “I’m sure mostare far too scared to try and talk to you with that aloofness you wear like armor.”
He snorted, a rare smile tugging his mouth.
A low purr of an engine resounded in the alley. Reynner looked past her.
Eve turned to find the Lamborghini heading up the road. She shot a quick look at him to find the mask of remoteness back in place. She sighed.
Chapter 14
Sebris eased off his shirt. Blood seeped from his wound and dripped down his abs. The lesion scored deep in his stomach ran parallel with the pain eating at him. His hands shook as he rested them on the countertop. He glanced at the enormous mirror above the porcelain sink in his bathroom and took in his injuries. If he hadn’t used the last bit of his ability to dematerialize, the Empyrean would have had his head as a trophy.
He hadn’t lived this long to die because of carelessness. Displeasure resurged when he thought about why he was in this state.
Taegér. Observe and report had been his orders. Not draw attention to them. But the warrior couldn’t resist getting closer when a female was involved, and the Empyrean had sniffed him out. If it weren’t for the fact that the warrior was one of his most trusted men, Taeg would meet Urias face-to-face sooner instead of later.
Sebris snagged a fresh towel and held it against his wound. It didn’t heal quickly like it would have if he were on Empyrea. Nor could he use his powers since his had all but flatlined. He wouldn’t die from his injuries, but it just hiked his pain levels. And ignoring the damages wouldn’t make them go away.
He dampened another towel in water and washed the blood seeping from the gash, but the thing just wouldn’t quit. He gushed like a slaughtered animal.
Sebris glared in annoyance at the disaster of his wound.
He yanked open more cupboards, found several rolls of bandages, a small skein of silk thread, and a stitching device. He threaded the needle, pinched the wound closed, and pushed it through his flesh. The sticky mess of plasma made the needle slippery. Teeth clamped, he sutured. Sweat beaded on his skin. Pain rose, adding more to the rioting deep within his bones.
One, two, three,he continued sewing, his molars crushing down on the agony saturating him until the last stitch was in place. He knotted and snipped the ends.
Cotton pads, gauze, and three Band-Aids later, he covered the wound. He sucked in a deep breath and braced his hands on the counter.
