Page 63 of Bite The Terror That Feeds

His arms rested at his sides, his cloak blowing slightly in the wind.

Aurelias gripped him by the shoulder, holding on to one of the plates of his armor.

Kingsnake dropped his stare before he reciprocated, gripping him by the opposite shoulder.

Aurelias gave a nod before he released. “Vanquish the Ethereal. And claim our place as the true immortals.”

Kingsnake nodded. “I will.” He stepped away and headed to his horse.

Now Aurelias stared at me.

I stared back.

He crossed the short distance and approached me, kingly in his posture, in the strength of his physique. He stopped as he stood over me, dark hair contrasting against a fair face. “I have advice for you as well.”

“I’m listening.”

“To be human is to be weak and exploited. You’re fragile and sensitive. Your life-span is so brief that it’s over before you’ve had the chance to feel everything this world has to offer. You choose to be human to safeguard your soul, but no one has a soul—not even you. Reject the lies you’ve been fed and consider your future. Carefully.”

I said nothing.

“Your time is running out. Every day you wait, you’re a day older. Preserve more than your life, but also your youth.”

“I’ve chosen a different path. Accept that.”

His eyes narrowed. “It’s the wrong path.”

Maybe I would consider it if one circumstance was different. “I want children.”

“When you live forever, you don’t need them.”

“I would assume the opposite.”

“You find someone you love, and you enjoy them for eternity.”

“Then what is your purpose, Aurelias?” He didn’t have a wife. He didn’t have children. He didn’t have anything.

He stilled at my question.

“And more importantly…are you happy?”

He just stared. “My misery is unrelated to my condition.”

“Renee would still be alive if you were human—”

“And we would both be dead now.”

“But a full life would have been lived. Your sons would have carried on your name. You would be at peace with the stars and the sun.”

“I would be nothing—because there’s nothing after this.”

I couldn’t feel his emotions, but I was still aware of his anger.

“Keep an open mind, Larisa. That’s all.”

“Did Kingsnake ask you to say this?”

He paused for a long time, his stare on mine. “No. I said it for me.”

---