Page 21 of Veil of Night & Flames

“I recall, yes,” he said, her reminder that their marriage would be chaste twisting in his gut. “As I said, I have not touched Kali since I found you in dreams. Nor will I.”

“Glad to hear it. But you haven’t answered my question. Do you have a Tia?”

“No.” The answer hurt more than he’d expected it to, and he surprised himself by continuing to speak.

“There was Chase,” he said. “Before. When we were one. But even then, it was not the same. I was he, and he was me. That changed near the end. We began to see our purpose differently, and in that disconnect, we became unique. But rather than giving me a true brother, that split pushed us apart.” He forced himself to look at her. “So, no. I suppose I have never had my Tia.”

“I’m sorry.”

He shook his head. “Don’t be. It is good what you have with Tia, but you forget that I’m not human. I don’t need that. I have my court, and that is more than sufficient.”

He expected her to call him out. Instead, she simply took his hand and said, “Of course.”

It was such a small gesture, and yet it felt like she was giving him the world. He, who already ruled one entire realm of existence. “Cora,” he began, but stopped when he heard her delighted squeal.

He followed her gaze to see the two girls. Tia was talking with her hands, her silver rings catching the sun. Beside her, Riley tucked a strand of purple hair behind her ear. When she laughed at something Tia said, the gemstone in her septum glinted.

Beside him, Cora sucked in a breath, then took a single step forward before Adric caught her hand and tugged her back.

“We watch,” he said quietly. “That’s all.”

She tried to pull free, then relented. “Why?” she whispered. “I’m right here. I could just⁠—”

“Because the moment you cross that distance, you owe them an explanation that includes me. Are you ready to give it?”

Her lips parted, but no words came out.

“I didn’t think so.”

She grimaced, then sighed. “Fine,” she whispered as they followed at a distance—close enough to hear, far enough to remain unnoticed. And when the girls settled at an outdoor table close to a campus snack bar, Adric guided Cora to a nearby bench, partially hidden by a hedge where they could remain unseen.

“I just have this feeling,” Tia was saying. “Like something’s wrong. My gut has been screaming for days, and I can’t make it stop. I mean, I’m not crazy, right? They should be back by now. Something happened in the crash. What if they’re all hurt?”

“She knows,” Cora whispered. “She knows we crashed, and she’s worried to death. I have to tell her.”

He shook his head. “You’ll hurt her more by telling and leaving. Tell her fully when you return. Haven’t you already told me that’s your intent?”

He watched her face, hoping she’d say that she’d changed her mind and would stay in his realm at his side. But all she did was nod, then whisper, “Of course, I’m coming back.”

For a moment, he thought she would say something else, but instead, she stiffened as Riley spoke, “It’s only been a week. And you heard what Mr. Griffin said. He couldn’t find any evidence that they died in the crossing. And for all we know, it’s only been five minutes for them. Time moves differently across realms.”

“I know,” Tia said, her tone grudging. “Doesn’t mean I’m not going to worry.”

Riley leaned over to kiss her cheek. “You’re a good friend.”

“Well, duh. But it’s more than friendship, and you know it. We need them. All the weird shit going down at the Widow Maker? Griff doesn’t have a clue, so Chase is probably our only hope for real answers.”

“Hello?” Riley said. “Remember me? I’m making progress. At least, I think I am.”

As Tia took Riley’s hand, Cora whipped around to face Adric.

He just shrugged. The ancient tree was a known breach point, but whatever the “weird shit” at the tree was, he had no knowledge of it, and from the look on her face, neither did Cora.

“I just hope they’re all safe,” Tia said.

Riley nodded. “I know. Me, too.”

Cora’s whole body went rigid beside him, and he knew she was fighting the urge to burst around the hedge and into her best friend’s arms.