But either she didn’t get the hint, or outright ignored it.Altair would have bet on the latter.“Little brother…”
“I’m not little anymore, and I haven’t been for a long time,” he grumbled.
“You’ll always be little to me.”Tara tried to ruffle his hair, but he blocked her hand before she could touch him.It almost made him smile.Almost.Then Iyana’s face flitted through his mind, lying in Sullane’s lap, betrayal written all over her expression, and his mood immediately regressed to where it had been the past few days.
“Fine, Altair.Tell me about her.We all saw you win the Aztia over.Obviously we didn’t see everything, otherwise I’d understand what you were going through.Please, talk to me.”
The words were on the tip of his tongue until he spied an unnatural shadow standing across the tavern.To anyone else, it would have appeared like any other dark corner, but Altair knew better.
“It appears our cousin has come to visit,” he told Tara.She swiveled in her seat to follow his gaze.Once the other star realized he’d been spotted, his darkness receded, allowing his form to become visible.A human nearby started at the sudden appearance of another man, and he glanced down at his ale before rubbing his eyes in disbelief.
He was larger than Altair remembered him being, most likely because he was usually shrouded in darkness and shadows—different from Rigil’s shadows, which always felt sinister whenever they were near.This star’s darkness instead was reminiscent of the night of a new moon, when things were quiet and serene, even though you couldn’t see five feet in front of you.His maroon hair was so dark it almost appeared black until the light caught it, causing it to glint red.
“Altair,” he said when he reached their side, his voice deep.“Rigil wants to see you.”
“Well, hello to you too, Scuti,” Tara drawled.
Scuti smirked and bowed his head towards her.“Cousin.Always a pleasure.”
“Did Rigil happen to mention why he has summoned me?”Altair asked.
Eerie dark eyes, a color extremely unusual for stars, pinned Altair to his seat.He would do well to remember that Scuti was not one to cross, even if he was typically mild-mannered.He was the preferred spy for the Alpha Centauri for a reason.
“You know Rigil rarely tells me of his reasonings.”
“Of course he doesn’t,” Altair muttered, taking another drink from the bottle.Scuti glanced at it with distaste.
“You also know we should not keep him waiting.”
“Then let us go see what our esteemed leader demands of me now.”Altair finished the rest of the bourbon before clapping Scuti on the shoulder and being transported through the darkness to wherever Rigil awaited him.
Chapter 3
Zane
Everythinghappenedtoofast—Zanecouldn’t even register what was happening until it was too late.The moment he saw Talon’s body on the ground, his neck at that angle, and his chest unmoving, Zane had let out a guttural cry.He couldn’t hold it back as he cradled the body of another man he loved.Suddenly, he was seventeen again, in his bedroom instead of the Dead Lands, and the man in his lap was Jax.
Ignoring any remaining danger, he’d pleaded for Talon to come back; shouted how he’d promised to never leave him.For all Zane cared, Altair could end his life, too.
They’d only just barely found each other.His father was dead.They were supposed to have time…Time to love each other out in the sun, instead of hiding from his father in the shadows.Zane had an hour of happiness, thinking everything in his life was finally falling into place.And now?Now Zane wished he could follow Talon into the Everlands.
What else could the gods possibly put him through?Hadn’t he been dealt enough tragedy in his brief life?
Zane wondered what the point of loving someone was when it could only end in pain.What was the point of giving someone your heart just to have it ripped from your chest?
His mother.
Jax.
Talon.
He’d even loved his father, despite the atrocities Uther had committed against him.They were all gone.He was alone.
What was the godsdamnpoint?
Zane was seriously contemplating grabbing a dagger and removing the organ that had caused him so much grief when Iyana lurched towards them.Instinctively, Zane held Talon closer to his chest, unwilling to let anyone else touch him.They should’ve just gone back to Arinem and left him there.He didn’t care about the wailers or the curse laid on this land.Zane would stay there with Talon until he could be with him again.
But Iyana’s hand landed on Talon anyway, silver light emanating from the point of contact, so bright Zane had to shut his eyes.As it dimmed, he peeked to see Iyana slumped forward with her pupils rolled back into her head.But her hand remained on Talon’s body, still emitting light.Emmeric scrambled over towards them, reaching for the Aztia.
