Page 69 of The Sorcerer of Shadowholde

“Where is Tullia now?”

“Dead, most certainly. She was a half-elf and Atria was human.”

“How long ago was this?”

“Two hundred years or so. But Renatus never forgot her.”

Twohundredyears?

Vita knew full-blooded elves lived a long time, but the idea of two centuries was unfathomable. She would be lucky if she made it past one hundred and fifty. And Tullia…

The woman she looked like, the woman Renatus never forgot.

The woman he loved.

Her stomach clenched, her chest constricting painfully.

“So that’s the only reason he wanted me. Because I look likeher.” She tried to keep the jealousy out of her words, but it was difficult.

Petran cupped her cheek, turning her to face him as tears welled in her eyes. “No, love, that’s not what I meant at all. You may have caught his eye because of your appearance, but Renatus likes you foryou. He wouldn’t have brought you to his palace if he didn’t.”

He pressed his warm lips to hers, the sweet scent of honey enveloping her, beguiling her, but Vita pulled away. “I don’t understand you, any of you. Socasualwith your… affection.”

A deep laugh from Petran, kind and gentle. “I promise you, I amnevercasual with my affection. Renatus and Aurora care for you, which means I care for you. They have accepted you and thus, I accept you.”

Her eyes widened, and she had to turn away from his tender gaze. Accepted her? Cared for her? In a strange way, she supposed it was true. Vita felt more at home than she had in years, since Mariana passed away and she found employment with the Praetor.

Still, there was a nagging feeling in her gut that her resemblance to Tullia was the only reason Renatus wanted her company. And it hurt.

“I hope I’ve not upset you. That wasn’t my intention.” Petran’s normally booming voice was quiet, and he gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “Here, there’s something I want to show you.”

They wandered through parks and streets, hand in hand, until he stopped in front of a building she knew well.

The Temple of Aona.

It was round, unlike most of the religious sanctuaries in Shadowholde, and sat atop a podium of steps, a ring of massive columns supporting the conical roof. Vita had been here many times as a child, the priestesses of Aona offering food and prayer for those in need. Just a month ago, she was making an offering of her own with Rhea at the Aonalia celebration.

Oh, how things had changed in such little time.

Petran led them around the exterior to a small cemetery in back. Rows of graves with small gray marking stones twisted around the temple, great oak trees shading the peaceful resting place. They stopped in front of one marker, and Vita bent down to read the name.

ATRIA LURIO.

Petran’s voice sounded from above. “She was a strong woman, an excellent healer. I miss her. I know why she left, why she returned to the temple, but it was painful to see her go.”

A tear ran down her cheek as she kneeled before the grave. Another friend of Renatus, a friend of Aurora and Petran. Someone who’d left when Renatus changed, when his maker turned him. Vita wondered what she had been like, so devoted to something you believed in.

Aona, the Goddess of the hearth and the home, and her virgin priestesses who dedicated their lives to serving others. They knew exactly where they wanted to be. The cemetery was calming, in a way, peaceful and full of the love and wisdom of centuries of women serving the city.

Vita rose, turning to face Petran as she wiped the tears from her eyes. “Thank you. For explaining, for everything.”

He pulled her into a hug, kissing her on the top of the head, and she sighed into the comforting embrace.

As they made their way back to the palace, she desperately wished she could see Verian. There were so many things she’d learned and she needed someone to talk to, someone she trusted without question. Ifhe was working his normal shift, he wouldn’t be free until the evening, and it was still late afternoon.

There were shouts up ahead as they approached the front of the palace, hurrying along the stone bridge and glancing at each other. A soldier with a black cloak was arguing with the doorman, but not just any soldier.

“Verian!” Vita shouted, loosing herself from Petran and running to meet her friend.

---