I can’t be the one to put fear in her eyes.
Please don’t fear what you’re about to see.
My chest expands to the point my lungs are about to pop. I barely hear the rushing water over her heavy breaths and my harsh exhales.
Although I’m drenched from the shower, a cold sweat breaks out across my skin as I turn.
Her gasp and the way her eyes shatter pierce me right through the heart.
“No,” she breathes, lifting her shaking fingers to her lips.
I stay as still as I can when she takes an unsteady step toward me.
“No, no, no.”
My soul withers as she reaches toward me and pulls back repeatedly. My throat burns with the need to speak, reassure her, but I don’t. I keep my mouth shut and my hands clenched at my sides until she’s comfortable enough to get close to me again on her own.
“Why…how…are…” She gulps and takes another step closer.
I hold in my twitch and hiss when her finger caresses the first cut across my stomach. There are so many.
Countless little red slices decorate my chest. I really fucking hoped by now they’d be less noticeable.
I wince from her flinch and shriek, then slam my eyes shut. I attempt to control my breathing.
If I slow my heart, it slows the shadows.
“Kyzen…why does it move? Is it alive? Why does it…” she trails off. I don’t know if she’s watching me compose myself or it. “Oh gods. He marked you too.”
A shuddering breath escapes me as she lays her whole palm to my chest. Tremors wreak mayhem across my entire body, and it takes everything in me to stay standing.
Standing still at least.
I want to rip her hand from the infestation on my chest.
I don’t want her anywhere near it.
“He did. He never wanted me to forget that I’m the Killer of Time.”
I didn’t need his mark to remind myself that.
Now, though, every day, I’ll look in the mirror and stare at the sword that pierces through the sunsetter. I’ll watch the line of shadows tick in tune with my heart.
That’s the difference between mine and Riven’s.
Mine ticks along.
Time always moves.
I can’t take it anymore.
As gently as I can, I wrap my fingers around her wrist and remove her hand from my heart. Her gaze snaps up to mine.
“My brothers don’t know and I don’t want them to. I’ll keep it hidden. I won’t undress in front of you anymore, and I’ll wear a shirt all the time. I promise.”
She winces and her frown deepens.
“You’re worried about us seeing it?”
