“How…?” she rasped, clearing her throat. “Why are you asking me right now?”
“Did you, Nya?”
She glanced around the room, not entirely sure how she had ended up in his bed. She remembered the pool…what they had done…but after, her memories were hazy. Carus had been there, or his voice, but she wasn’t entirely sure what had been said.
“I… Yes, I did. But he was stillborn.”
Morgen rubbed her jaw, muttering, “Ofcourse.This is about to get a lot more complicated.” She opened her mouth to ask what he meant, but he cut her off, asking, “Are you aware that when a god dies, their soul is eventually reborn? Mostly, it’s just gods and godlings, but if a demi-god is particularly powerful, they may get caught up in the cycle of rebirth too.”
She furrowed her brow. “Yes, it’s why my parents came back after they died along with Kronos.”
He nodded. “Usually, resurfaced memories from a past life become clearer with time.” He hesitated before he continued. “I’ve always suspected this isn’t Carus’ first life, but he’s never remembered anything clearly. He’s always said he can recallfeelings that don’t feel attached to anything in this life, so I figured perhaps his last life was a very long time ago. But maybe he has no memories because he didn’t make any.”
Nya’s eyes widened, sudden heat rushing to her face. “Are you saying you think Carus is mybrother?”
“I’m saying I don’t know, but he holds a striking resemblance to your father, and his magic is fire-based.”
“He doesn’t look like…” But she trailed off, realizing Morgen was right. Carus had her father’s nose and high cheekbones, and his eyes were the same as hers. She hadn’t seen it before because why would she? It didn’t make any sense. “But I thought Carus was a demi-god?”
Morgen shook his head. “Both his birth parents were mortal. They died when he was young, and he ended up on the streets in D’anna. He crossed the border into Arcadia when he was thirteen.”
“How old is he?”
“Twenty.”
“I thought he was older,” she whispered, shaking her head.
“Most do,” Morgen said with a sigh. “But he’s incredibly powerful and has lived through more than most do in a lifetime. Those things tend to age someone past their years.”
Her throat worked. This was…too much of a coincidence. Wasn’t it? Morgen couldn’t possibly be right, and even if he was, what did it mean? Everything was complicated enough already.
“Did you see my dream?” she asked. “Is that how you figured it out?”
Morgen paused. He was already dressed, and she had no idea what time it was. She needed to go back to her parents, make sure her father was okay, and apparently figure out if she had a brother. But this felt important. She couldn’t remember her own dreams most of the time, but if Morgen could see them, maybe she could finally figure out the source of her nightmares.
“Yes,” he finally answered, not explaining further.
“Is that new?” she pushed. “You being able to see my dreams?”
“Not entirely,” he said. The air shimmered with the pulsing energy of his magic, and she wondered if it was on purpose, or if some of his control was slipping.
“Okay,” she whispered, holding his gaze. “I have more questions about that, but for now, where is Carus?”
Morgen cleared his throat. “Still keeping guard.”
Nya winced. “Keeping guard outside the room holding my parents, who might also be his parents?”
“We should probably head that way,” Morgen said carefully, rising from the bed. “Imeria brought clothes for you. I’ll be waiting in the hall.”
She almost brought up what had happened last night but let him leave instead. If he didn’t want to talk about it, perhaps that was for the best.
She dressed quickly in the thick pants and too-big shirt Imeria had left, tugging on boots she assumed were for her too before joining Morgen. His eyes landed momentarily on her face, though he looked away quickly. She wondered if he felt the same urge to stare, paired with bitterness when hedidlook at her.
He sucked in a short breath, and she wondered if he’d heard the thought. All he said was, “If you can find it in you to be gentle about this, I’d ask you to try. I know you don’t like him, but this might be a bit…sensitive, for Carus. He’s been looking for his true parents for a long time.”
“So he’s always known his mortal parents weren’t really his family?”
They started to walk. “I think so, yes. Obviously, I’ve never been reborn, but I hear there is usually a strong feelingof dissonance with the circumstances you’re born into. Your parents are quite familiar with that feeling, I’m sure.”
