Page 95 of Amethyst and Iron
“Excuse me?”
“You didn’t tell me about the fifth necromancer. You’re keeping something else off my radar too in a misguided bid to protect my mental state, which, as you can see, is nowhere near fragile like you’d worried.”
“It’s not just that. It is not my information to convey. But with this that you’ve just told me, it does now need to be revealed.”
“Ourinvestigation? You and Velra, you mean?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
I hesitated.
“It’s okay, Cassius.”
My gaze flicked to the ensuite, Sylas’ head swinging in that direction too, as Velra emerged wrapped in one of my white towels.
“Velra?” Sylas spoke. “What’s going on?”
She looked at me, then sighed, and eased onto the edge of the bed beside him. “With everything that’s happened, your involvement that was all because of you risking everything to save me, I asked Cassius not to say anything. I wanted us to figure it out on our own before we came to you with incomplete information, and just a whole lot of worry. And also guilt to burden you with when it wasn’t even your fault that—”
“Relax,” he told her, laying his hand gently on her shoulder. “I am notorious for keeping secrets, remember? Something Lazriel really doesn’t do well with when it comes to me. I know a wealth of reasons for keeping this secret and that, so believe me when I say, I wouldn’t judge or condemn anyone for doing the same.”
“Except me?” I cut in.
He wagged his finger. “Nuh-uh. Not so. I didn’t condemn you. I wanted you to explain why you kept it. And your answer revealed the potential for you keeping a whole lot more.”
“Hmm, how Machiavellian of you.”
He smirked. “Thought you’d like that.”
I did. Of course I did.
Curses.
His smirk slipped away as he fingered Velra’s stunning ombre hair, asking, “So, what is it that you wished to reveal to me, Dark Beauty?”
She tensed.
Not only that.
I felt a pang through the Soul Brand. It hurt her to talk about this, to relive that trauma.Andalso to give breath to something that could bring Sylas guilt and distress, especially when he was in no state to respond in the way he much preferred—magically.
I walked to the bed and settled on her other side, telling her, “I will convey it if you so wish. I’ve made breakfast—Cloud Muffins await. I can see to this.”
Sylas didn’t say anything. He looked between us curiously. And I saw it then from his expression and the way in which he didn’t push… his concern and care for Velra’s wellbeing outweighed his intense need to know, to receive this important revelation.
Velra turned her head, a smile gracing her lips, then nuzzled against my cheek, the sensation more than even warmth, it was all I could do to suppress a groan and not allow my focus to waver. I saw Sylas’ lips quirk, his gaze soften all the more.
“I’ll be fine,” she assured me. “It’s all right, I promise.”
“Okay.” I eased off the bed and stood a few feet back, Sylas sitting up against the headboard playing with her hair, while she sat before him starting to fist her hands in the sheets between them.
“When I was in the Valley of the Dead—well, the periphery area—”
“The Veil,” Sylas provided.
“Yes. When I was there, I was almost pulled in, my Wraith magic tapping out. But in my panic and anger, I managed to create a tear in the fabric of the place.”
