Page 161 of His Darkest Desire

“What matters?” Flare demanded.

Vex threw his arms out. “The reorganization of this library.”

“Look upon it, magus,” Shade said, mimicking his gesture. “Truly see it.”

Scowling, Vex raked his gaze across the library. Whatever retort he’d been about to make faltered before ever gaining voice.

Swaths of shelving stood empty. Piles of books, some stacked almost as tall as Vex, lay not just upon the table but all over the floor. Several looked so precarious that even magical intervention might not have been enough to prevent them from eventually toppling.

The library was a mess. A leather-bound labyrinth.

“Temporary chaos. Necessary to achieve the end goal.” Vex waved at the shelves near the nook. “I am arranging them by subject. A far more logical system.”

Shade floated to one of those shelves, casting their glow upon the books there. Gently, they said, “These are not arranged by subject.”

“Of course they—”

“They are not,” said Flare.

Echo joined Shade at the shelf and pointed to the tomes. “You have but gathered the books Kinsley most enjoyed in one place, magus.”

Vex’s brow furrowed. Scarcely two dozen books were on those shelves; he could’ve sworn there’d been more. Could’ve sworn they’d been categorized properly. Yet he recognized every book upon that shelf as one he’d read with Kinsley, especially the last two.

Beasts of the Blademarshes and Alythrii’s journal stood at the end, side by side. Hadn’t he placed them on separate shelves, in separate sections? Mayhap…mayhap there was an overlap between the two, and he’d simply lost his focus for a moment?

“It has been but one day, magus,” Shade whispered.

“One day…” Vex chuckled humorlessly. “Each heartbeat has been an eternity.”

Shade and Echo moved to Vex, the former touching his hand. “This will change naught.”

“Yet these tidings may ease you,” said Flare as they joined the others.

Echo flickered with excitement. “These ones bear a message from Kinsley.”

Vex’s insides clenched, halting both his breath and his heart. As much as he wanted to hear what she’d said, he wasn’t sure if he could bear the pain of it. Wasn’t sure if he could bear hearing her words from anywhere but her own lips.

“Speak,” he finally choked out.

“You are an asshole,” Flare said without hesitation.

The blunt statement struck Vex like a blow; he flinched, pressing his lips firmly together.

“Kinsley’s words, magus,” said Echo.

Flare gestured to themself. “This one’s words as well.”

Shade stroked Vex’s hand with a tendril. “And she is angry with you.”

“Very, very angry,” Flare amended.

The void at Vex’s center grew wider, deeper, colder. That he was wholly deserving of her anger did not diminish the hurt it inflicted. But better her wrath than her hatred.

“Yet she loves you still.” Shade rose to hover directly before Vex’s face, flanked by the other wisps. Their ghostfire was strong, steady…hopeful.

“She will remain close,” said Echo, “awaiting you.”

Jaw muscles ticking, Vex shook his head. “I acted so she may move on. I’ll not have her lingering here because of me.”

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