Page 24 of Eternal Mate

Or maybe having Ashe around was just pulling him out of that apathetic shell he’d locked himself into.

Auren took a deep breath, visibly trying to calm himself. “Sorry, it’s just... it’s been a rough time for me, you know?”

I nodded understandingly. “I can’t even begin to imagine what you’ve been through. Losing Kiyomasa was a heavy blow for all of us, but I know it was different with you two. That’s why I’m here, to remind you that despite the pain and the grief, there’s still a world out there that needs us.”

He looked at me, his eyes reflecting a mix of emotions. “I know I’ve been wallowing in my own misery, shutting myself off from everything and everyone. I just don’t know how to move forward.”

I reached for his hand and squeezed it briefly. “One step at a time. Moving forward doesn’t mean forgetting or betraying the memories we hold dear, it means finding a way to honor them while also embracing the present and the future. Kiyomasa would want you to keep going, to keep fighting for what we believe in—what he believed in.”

It seemed counterproductive to remind him that Kiyomasa had literally sacrificed himself for the Resistance and the people under its care.

Auren let out a sigh, his shoulders sagging with the weight of his emotions. “I miss him so much, Sariel. It’s like a part of me is missing, and it hurts. I don’t know how to deal with it.”

“I understand,” I said softly, reminded of the years I’d spent in agony, mourning the man beside me now.

A sense of determination swelled within me, fueled by the love I felt for my brother. “But you don’t have to face it alone,” I reassured him. “We’re here for you, Auren.”

“Thanks, Sariel. I needed to hear that.”

Auren leaned his head against my shoulder, and it reminded me so much of when we were kids that I was breathless for a moment.

As we sat there, side-by-side, watching the sun climb higher in the sky, I knew that this was just the beginning of a long journey for both of us. But we had each other, and with that support, we could face whatever challenges lay ahead.

Even if those challenges mainly consisted of dragging ourselves out of bed every morning.

The world continued to awaken around us. Birds chirped their melodious songs, and the gentle rustling of the leaves became a comforting backdrop. Nature seemed to echo the resilience and renewal that we sought in our own lives. The weight of the world still lingered, but it felt more bearable now, shared between us.

We’d taken the first step, emerging from the shadows of grief and embracing the possibility of a brighter future.

“Your turn,” Auren said as the sun finally made its way above our apartment building. “What’s been eating away at you, brother?”

Blowing out a breath, I reminded myself that this was only fair. Nobody liked having to air their dirty laundry, and I’d more or less forced the man outside to do exactly that. I didn’t need him thinking I was a hypocrite on top of everything else.

You’ve totally got this, Aria cheered sleepily down the bond, and I smiled.

I took a moment to gather my thoughts, grappling with my inner demons and conflicting emotions. The burden of my lineage weighed heavily on me as I questioned whether I could truly be a force for good or if my fallen blood would eventually lead me down a darker path, mirroring my father’s footsteps.

Auren’s presence beside me brought a sense of comfort, but it also stirred a flicker of fear within me. Would he ever see me as a reflection of our father? Would I be destined to repeat his mistakes and perpetuate a cycle of darkness and despair? These doubts haunted me, gnawing at the edges of my sanity.

“Sometimes, I can’t help but wonder if I’m destined to follow in our father’s footsteps. If the darkness within me will consume everything good,” I admitted, my voice laced with uncertainty.

Auren turned to me, his eyes filled with concern and a touch of sadness. “Sariel, I could never see you turning into our father. You’re not him.”

“I think I could be, in a few thousand years.”

My joke fell a bit flat, so I cleared my throat.

Auren’s gaze held mine, unwavering. “We all have darkness in us, Sariel. It’s how we choose to confront and overcome it that matters. Do you think I don’t struggle with the same thoughts? You’re only half-fallen; by your own logic, I’m destined to follow Azazel’s footsteps no matter what I do just because he helped make me.”

It did sound silly when he put it like that. Auren had spent years fighting against our father’s influence and trying to help people—I couldn’t see him being tainted by that man at all. If I didn’t know better, I would think there wasn’t a drop of Azazel’s bloodline in him.

“You’re right,” I conceded, and my brother perked up at his small victory.

His smirk would have been insufferable if I hadn’t missed seeing it so much. “Of course I am.”

I rolled my eyes, playfully shoving him. “Don’t let it go to your head.”

“Too late.”

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