Page 46 of Eternal Surrender

That wasn’t true. I had believed her dead, and I wanted to recount the carnage of vengeance I had unleashed for her loss. But it all felt insignificant now, beside this moment.

Her words stung deep, and I was stunned with her lack of sympathy.

Marcus was standing in the doorway. “Orpheus plans to reverse this, Sunaria,” he said. I’d never imagined I’d be facing a moment like this. And now it felt as though a million centuries lay between us.

“Thought we were calling him William now?” Her tone sliced through the air.

Marcus gestured for me to rejoin him.

“Change your mind,” I pleaded with her. “Stay.”

“Anyone who attempts to imprison me here. . .” Though her inflection was passive, the intimation was clear.

Marcus lowered his gaze. “Sunaria, no one will stop you. You’ve made it quite clear you’re not staying.”

“What are your plans for him?” Her mouth twisted with suspicion.

Marcus stood straight, confident. “It’s my job to pick up the pieces when you break his heart.”

“You left him alone at Stonehenge,” she said. “This is your fault for abandoning Orpheus when Jadeon attacked.”

“Orpheus ordered me to go,” said Marcus. “Don’t you think I regret leaving him there now?”

“The only person I trust is me,” she said. “Snowstrom will put this right.”

Marcus looked harried. “That’s where you’re going, to find Snowstrom?”

Sunaria was defiant. “You get him all to yourself after all, Marcus.”

“I’m right here,” I said.

“Not my Orpheus,” Sunaria snapped.

Her words struck hard, and I grasped the door to steady myself. “Sunaria, my love for you goes so deep inside of me that even I can’t reach it anymore.”

Yet she stood there expressionless as though she’d not heard my confession.

When those tortuous seconds became too much, I closed my eyes and rested my forehead against the doorframe. Lord, forgive me for all that I’ve ever done that may have offended thee. . .

“He’s not listening,” she said.

Don’t abandon me in my hour of need. . .

“It’s a little late for that, don’t you think?” Her incredulous expression forced me out.

Chapter Nine

The female, twenty-two-year-old Gothica Anaïs, stood barefoot on the floor’s ornate hexagon. Long, black hair and heavy makeup emphasized her delicate features bestowed by her Japanese American heritage. She wore the classic attire of a servant of Belshazzar’s, and her body was kissed here and there with tattoos.

Twenty or so other elders stood a little way behind her, all eager to watch the proceedings of the Gothica’s initiation on her day of decision.

Zachary approached Anaïs, sharing words of reassurance with her.

Marcus was seated in the center of one of three high-backed chairs upon a high platform. I sat to his right.

His ironclad grip brought my attention back on him. “Sunaria’s hurting,” he said quietly. “She’ll come round.”

“I’ve lost her again,” I whispered, not believing it possible.