Page 85 of Gift from the Wing

“Very funny. The term beloved. Is it one used freely, like a sweet nickname in Essemist Keep?”

“You mean as your men all address you as things that are not your name?”she asks.

“Yeah. Like princess, little warrior, little wanderer. Caspian calls me Primary, which is technically what I am and his sweet name for me. I guess I’m a princess too, but they call that the Awaiting Matriarch here.”

“I see. No, beloved is not tossed around like that. It is more as your Shadow Walker uses his words. Beloved is a sacred title. One only given to ones truly beloved.”

I was afraid of that.

“How many beloveds can a person have? You know like I have four true Nexus members.”

“One.”

“At a time or?”I ask slowly.

“No, young one, in a lifetime. It’s an undeniable connection that’s not even broken with death. Why the sudden interest?”

“Just…curiosity.”

“Oh, don’t begin to lie to me now, Willow. We share freely,”she says seriously.

“I know, but I don’t think it’s my place to share,”I say sadly despite trying to hide the heartbreak in my tone.

It doesn’t get past her.

“Ah, I see. You don’t feel like it’s not your place to tell your beloved the truth.”

“So you know?”

“Of course. My lord has not spoken about it, nor has he grieved properly, but I know. Just as I felt Draken come into this realm, I felt her leave it.”

“I think if Keeper told him, it would bridge the small gap remaining between them. Draken wants answers about his mom, but he’s afraid to ask.”

“And my lord is afraid to speak.”

“So what? They’re just going to ignore it indefinitely?”I ask incredulously.

“Probably. These are immortal men we’re discussing, dear. They believe they have all the time in the realms to do as they please. Sometimes they need a push or a swift claw to the ass. Whichever you prefer.”

“What I prefer? So you think I should tell him?”

“I do.”

“Well, then why don’t you tell Keeper to talk about it then?”

“Oh, absolutely not. It’ll cause a fight and I’m liable to eat him. You can’t eat your beloved.”

“You can’t eat your bonded,”I argue.

“I most certainly can. I’ve tried a couple of times over the last few hundred years. He’s rather fast.”

Oh, what the hell?

“Listen, Adored, there are many responsibilities to being a beloved. Being bonded in any romantic capacity. One of those is being the bearer of news.Whether bad or good, you are always honest no matter what. No matter how difficult. And in turn, you must also be the one to comfort and care for their feelings. I believe it will do more harm than good for Draken to hear this directly from my lord.

“He will blame him rather than understand the predicament he was in. Coming from you, he will receive both honesty and comfort. My lord will take my advice on pretty much anything, but broaching the subject of his passed beloved will not go over well for the two of us. He is still firmly in his angry stages of grieving. Despite not showing any of you that side. He had no outlet other than the forest that held him prisoner and essentially took the love of his life and child from him.”

My heart splinters as I recall the look on his face as he told her she had to leave. He was determined he’d have her, hold her once again, and I can’t imagine what he felt to know she was gone. That still leaves me with so many questions, though. I need those answers if I’m going to tell Draken this.

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