Page 68 of Rune

Ve swallowed, and his lips twisted sourly before replying. “Merely by reminding him what it would feel like for you to watch your sister die. His pity has granted you one final moment together.” He said it soplainly, but I guessed that was merely a coat of paint over a mansion of hurt underneath. Quite possibly, Ve reminded the guard of his own pain—of how his sister had died, and it was pity for Ve that got me through those doors, not pity for me. For Ve and his sister never got one final moment together. But I would. And Ve would help me get many more.

The night was still around us, and I kept my eyes on it as I spoke in a low voice. “I know about your sister.” His head snapped up. “Liv told me.” I dared to glance at him, and saw how his mouth pressed tight.

Then it relaxed. “I suppose it was a difficult secret to keep hidden. Yes, my sister died on Earth, and I know it makes no sense that I’d be so desperate to go somewhere that killed her, but it was a place Elain loved. It feels like honoring her to find out why she loved it. Like if I don’t go, then her death was pointless.”

That’s how Liv had described it to me too. His desire to go to Earth was so wrapped up in his memory of his sister that now he had to get there if only to keep the memory alive. I wished to know what to say in regard to his hurt, but if the years had taught me anything, it was that pain wasn’t easily washed away by words, no matter how pretty. Though people often tried.

Instead, I made him a promise as I placed a hand over his. “Someday, I’ll show you all the beautiful parts of Earth for her.”

That earned me a smile. Making him smile right now felt like a victory.

“She would have liked you,” he told me. “Actually, she would have insisted you were too good for me, but she would have seen through this little ruse of ours in a heartbeat.”

“Has Leif questioned it?”

Ve laughed, wiping his eyes dry. “My brother isn’t keen enough. He’s congratulated me full-heartedly. But Elain would have gone along with it and been scheming behind our backs to make the romance real.”

He shifted so his knees touched mine and a scrap of my skirt fell over his heel. He thumbed the fabric absentmindedly as he spoke. “She was the heart of the family. The one who dulled Erik’s fire, the one who drew emotion from Leif, the one who encouraged me to paint. Each of us were closest with her, so when she passed, we lost our connection to each other.”

I listened, feeling like I was finally seeing him.

“I threw myself into painting after she died. I didn’t touch a weapon for months. My parents blamed Leif and me, and our relationship never recovered. And Leif threw himself into the relationships around him, until we’d all found a way to dull the pain but never speak of it.”

His eye were glossy again, and his hand finally let go of my dress to pick up my hand. A warmth spread through me. “Then you come into our lives like a blazing fire, and you remind me so much of her, it’s like she’s still here.”

The warmth dissipated. That is what I was to him—a bridge to his sister.

Still, I squeezed his hand. “I’m glad I can bring you some happiness.”

His eyes searched mine, and I tried not to look too deeply into his. But the feeling was hard to ignore. Even earlier, I’d come stomping into the temple thinking how I didn’t feel safe anywhere. But with Ve, I did. I felt fearless and protected at the same time. He gave me that, and I sought out his company not because he reminded me of anyone, but because I wanted him.

He made me feel more than safe, I realized. He made me feel alive.

I predicted this might happen when Ve first suggested we fake a relationship. He’d always made it easy. Loving him—faked or real—came naturally.

I knew I’d fall.

But I was falling too hard.

When we got to Danmark someday, we’d part ways so he could find the missing part of his heart. But I feared I’d be losing part of mine.

Unaware of the storm within me, he wrapped a strong arm around my waist and tugged me into him. “Thank you, Ruin,” he breathed over my shoulder, “for being here with me.”

This time, the false name twisted inside me like a vine, ensnaring my mind. It was far too late to tell him my real name now.

I was grateful he couldn’t see my face.

He let go, and stood. “I should get home. Tomorrow, take the dirt path behind the arena to the slender iron door. The guard will let you in as the trumpets sound for the first match.”

I nodded, and he frowned.

“Are you alright? You seem upset.”

I willed my features to settle. “Merely thinking about tomorrow. Thank you for this time with Tova.”

“Of course.”

He left, and I realized I never took out my anger upon him for holding me back from helping Tova today. More than that, I realized I had no anger for him. Because he was protecting me, and instead of hating him, I loved him for it.

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