Nana scowls at me. “Why are you making that face at Thorne, Mavyllora? I know fucking well Ms. Elaycia taught you better manners than that. Introduce yourself properly.”
My mind is glitching.
Did he not try to kill me the first day we had met?
Dumbly, because I don’t know what else to do in this moment, I do as Nana says.
I hold my hand out ready for him to shake it as I say, “Hello.” I sound almost robotic. “My name is Mavyn.”
He still hasn’t looked at me but I can see the wheels of his mind working. When he does finally look at me I can’t read anything from his red eyes. He shakes my hand but I’m numb to it.
“I didn’t know your full name was Mavyllora,” is all he says.
Of course he didn’t. It’s a very unique name and one I never use myself. I’m sure he would have had a very different opinion of me if he had. Nana always talked about her ‘boy’when she would come back from visiting. How big and strong and powerful he was getting. How his training was coming along.
She had told me once that she would bring me with her on one of her trips eventually so we could meet. She said he likedmy name, but she had never mentioned his name. She had never mentioned his race either.
Nana tisks again. “You probably had no idea who she was because of that too. She always introduces herself as the shortened version even though that was the name given to her at birth.”
Ms. Elaycia steps up behind me. “And she has her reasons for not wanting to use her full name, Esmirra.”
Nana huffs but nods. “But that does not mean you should condone it for the actions of someone else.”
I lower my brows at her but she refuses to look at me.Actions of someone else. As if the sun devil simply used my name out of turn.
I shake my head at her and turn away because I don’t want to think about that. I don’t want to think about the past. My family, which I have not seen in nearly four months is here and this is real and I am so happy.
I am.
Truly.
Until I realize it was all a lie. This is a nightmare. And the sun devil is staring directly at me.
I actually freeze this time instead of bracing. Because it had felt more real this time. Normally it’s the pain that is the only thing that feels real. Normally the foreplay doesn’t last that long before he comes into the picture and burns me.
Icy blue eyes blink at me and then pitch black brows lower in confusion.
What kind of game is he playing?
My name is said but I don’t know who said it. His lips hadn’t moved and it would have sounded like him if they did.
Slowly, he makes his way over. My name is said again but I can’t move. I can’t do anything as he and others approach our circle. I had felt so peacefully warm a second ago and now all the peace has eviscerated.
“Hello,” he greets as he stops a few feet from me. My heart palpitates because itishis voice. “Are you alright, my dear?”
Mine.
In every lifetime.
I’m going to make sure you burn for eternity.
“Sun devil.”
He jerks back and I don’t even know how I was able to form those two words. I’m waiting. I’m waiting for the pain and torture and burning. Unless he’s waiting as a type of torment. He doesn’t look right. There isn’t a malicious aura around him or that twisted look in his eyes.
“How – “ His voice slightly cracks. He clears his throat and it shocks my brain because he never hesitated. I now notice a woman beside him with silky straight silvery white hair and hazel eyes. Fractures of gold and brown and green sparkling. Not wavy black hair and solid chocolate brown eyes.
“You’re not a water mage,” I whisper, and she glances between me and the sun devil. He looks shocked and also saddened.
