Page 44 of A Broken Ember

“You have done nothing wrong, Ruptor.”

Claeg’s eyes widened. “I could have killed you,” he responded, shaking.

“You didn’t,” I pointed out softly.

“The Ruptor isn’t gone.”

“Good.” Claeg jolted in surprise. “The Ruptor is part of what makes you Eleos, part of what makes you Claeg.”

“That terrifies me,” Claeg admitted. I gave him an appreciative smile and pressed small kisses to his cheeks. His tears tasted like smoke and salt. He stiffened under my touch. I pulled back to look at him, but his gaze averted mine.

“What’s wrong, Eleos?” I gripped his hand and brought it to my lips. We weren’t perfect, but we were growing. He was learning to experience pain and to heal. We could put ourselves back together. Claeg gulped, another tear slipping down his cheek.

“My Circle isn’t broken. I didn’t come here looking for life. My Janardan sent the Ruptor here to find answers, to hunt.”

I blinked. Stepped out of his embrace. He hung his head and his face flushed with shame. I didn’t know what to say to the confession. What did this mean for us now? Was he planning to leave me after the Choosing? After I gave my heart to him? I felt myself spiraling, but the next words he spoke snapped me out of my shock. “Eleos is a lie.”

I froze, unable to prevent myself from letting out a low growl.

“No.” I refused to let him think that of himself. It wasn't true. His intentions for coming here may not have been what I thought, but that didn’t change what had happened between us. That didn’t change the truth. “Are you telling me that the night, that flying, that humility, bacon, and orange juice, and strength, loyalty, and protection aren’t who you are?” He sighed. “You are more than the mistake of a lie.” I tilted his chin up. “I haven’t been completely honest either.” Claeg raised a single eyebrow and met my eyes. “I am going to Challenge my father to become the next De Vita. I want to make things better between the Circulus and De Vita. I want to unite the clans. In the beginning I had hoped Selecting you would further my ambitions.” I cringed at the truth, but Claeg held my eye.

“And now?”

“Did you find what you were hunting for?”

His eyes narrowed as he contemplated the question for a moment. Slowly, he nodded. “And what did you find?” My voice cracked with vulnerability and tugged my lip between my teeth.

“Oh, Prince. I found De Vita. Mercy. Laughter. Love. Healing. Forgiveness. Purpose. Strength.” His lips curled into a smile and he brought a hand up to pull me closer by my nape. We shared a breath. “I found the other half of my Circle, if you’ll have a broken man like me?” I took a sharp inhale in response to his question.

“Always.” I answered with my heart. When he brought his lips to mine, my heart soared.

Chapter 45: Claeg

Anastasius left me in his room, declaring that he would return after speaking quickly with Rohit. That was hours ago. At some point, I collapsed in his bed, exhausted from the emotional turmoil. The covers were cool against my skin. I closed my eyes, letting out a sigh. Everything had changed between Anastasius, and yet nothing at all. He gave me hope. Perhaps unity was just what the clans needed. It wouldn't be simple or easy, but it would be life-changing.

I smiled, letting myself fall into a hopeful sleep.

Clotho was laughing, the sound like the flapping of wings in the summer air. Pure. Unrestrained. Unburdened. I opened my eyes. I was in a clearing, the sun piercing the treetops and hitting the forest floor. Prairie flowers blossomed throughout the small field. In the center lay Clotho, her body entwined with another’s in the aftermath of lovemaking. A lustful scent mixed with the smell of the blossoms in the air. Clotho tilted her head back, her long white hair reflecting the sun among the grasses and ferns they lay in. A hand tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, a voice like melted honey whispering words I couldn’t decipher. I should leave them be, but something pulled me forward, a feeling that something wasn’t right. I needed to see. My breathing hitched, my legs urging me faster, but as I got closer, the sun fell and the distance between us grew.

“Clotho!” I shouted a warning, desperate to get to her as twilight consumed the clearing. A growl sounded from all around me, as if the forest itself were threatening her. My sister ignored me, her laughter growing distant. No, no, no! I reached forward, trying to hold on to the last of the light, but it vanished along with her laughter. I shouted in horror, but she slipped away. My breath ripped through my chest, my heart pounding in my throat, but I kept running. I ran harder, faster, but the more I ran, the farther I got from them until mountains separated us. Eventually, I fell to my knees, a scream on my lips.

“Brother, why are you crying?” Clotho growled at me. My eyes snapped open. Widened. We were back in the clearing, and she stood over her lover. Her hair was streaked red. The prairie flowers wilted where red puddles had formed on their petals. “I rid you of your weakness.” There was so much blood. Too much. I couldn’t look. I couldn’t bear to see Anastasius like this. She let out another laugh, but this one was distorted. Ugly.

I woke up with a gasp, my eyes flying open. Streams of bloody sunlight poured into the room like a bad omen. The bed was still cool. Anastasius. He hadn't returned. He was in danger. I knew it. I had been so obsessed with my mission that I hadn’t considered what Thana would do if the draconis returned. Would she be as angry as I was? Would she start a war over it? Perhaps not, but the Ruptor was screaming—protect. I vaulted out of bed.

I needed to get to Anastasius. I needed to warn him. I stumbled through the door, following the path of torches deeper, toward the infirmary. The castle was abuzz with people, but none of their faces matched the one I sought. They stared at me with wide eyes as I pushed my way through them. I needed to get to Anastasius. I needed to tell him . . . What? What did I need to tell him? I needed to warn him. Yes, warn him about Clotho. No, that wasn’t right. My sister wasn’t here. She couldn’t hurt Stas here.

I stopped. Last night I had nearly completed his Circle. I was the danger here. Anastasius was in danger because of me. NO. Not my prince, the man who made me feel safe and free to be myself, not a puppet, but a man with feelings and weaknesses. He couldn’t feel, but neither could I. Not before him. He had promised to show me how to live, to heal my soul and he had. He made me feel alive. I wanted to live, but not just for my clan. I wanted more.I took another step forward, but a rough hand caught my arm. I glared at it, wishing it would burn off. I needed to find my prince and tell him the truth. For there to be peace, there couldn't be any more lies.

“Good morning, Ruptor,” Calian sneered.

Chapter 46: Anastasius

My search for my friend didn’t last long. Instead of finding Rohit, I’d been caught by Thyia and commandeered into helping in the infirmary. I brought cups of spiced water to parched lips, dabbed damp cloths over brows and down spines, and helped feeble bodies expel waste. I sat in the corner, resting for a moment as Thyia prepared finely cut and dried green herbs and rare, sharp gingers for their nausea and pains.

I studied the sick over the rim of my glass. The room was cramped despite its looming chambers. The air was thick with wasted suffering, breaths stolen from death itself. Cries for mercy rumbled low in their chests. They called for Eleos, a melody so heart-wrenching it shattered the pieces of me that could still feel. Thyia took a step back from the table, leaving her tonics to sit next to me.

“What are we doing, Thyia?” I couldn’t help the desperate question from tumbling out into the gloom. Seeing the pain clinging to them solidified my decision. I had to face my father. “Why won’t he spare the magic to heal them?” I had never questioned my mentor like this before, but it seemed appropriate considering my plan to demand the healing spell. I just needed to warn Ercan and Rohit.

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