Page 75 of Toward Immortal Ruin

“These ones?” Reaching out for the bottom edge of the board, she accidentally brushed his fingers on the other side.

Instantly, Eden’s focus turned inward, swallowed by a vision. Blinking her eyes through the oppressive darkness, her sightcleared to reveal Nero, hunched over her unnaturally still body while he wept. Gut-wrenching, his agonized sobs twisted something within her, as though the grief was her own.

Gasping, she stumbled backwards, catching sight of Nero’s hand reaching toward an inky black dagger, with violet accents where the light shined off its edges. He breathed in, readied the blade’s tip against his heart, and—

Suddenly, Eden was yanked from the vision.

Distantly, she was aware that tears wet her face, and her limbs trembled violently. Eden’s hands flew up to cover her mouth, trying to regulate her heart from seizing with shock. Myko’s hands were held up before him as if apologizing, his face twisted in sorrow.

“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!”

“It’s okay, Myko, I’m alright,” she breathed. “You don’t have to apologize.”

“I was doing so well, but it’s—it’s harder to control when Nero’s sad.”

Swallowing the lump in her throat, she asked, “Control what, Myko?”

“My—my power.” He sniffed, wiping his nose. “Nero turns into a panther and controls emotions, and I make people see their worst fear. I didn’t do it on purpose! I’ve been learning and trying to control it with ‘Zaya and he’s been so good to me, and I’ve done so much better and I’m so sorry I did it to you!”

Eden’s features softened though her gut was still twisted in knots. “Myko, it’s okay. I’m okay. You didn’t mean to. I’m fine.”

Myko burst into tears. Zia was by his side in seconds, wrapping her arms around him. Kissing his mop of near black hair, she frowned apologetically at Eden. “I’m sorry. He can’t always control it. He’s just a boy.”

Eden’s heart broke at the realization that Zia felt the need to defend him. There was so much to supernatural life that wasn’t as easy as human stories portrayed it.

“I would never blame him. I’m sure it takes time to perfect control of something like that. I’m not even sure whatitwas, Zia?”

She would never be the same after seeing a glimpse of Nero turning that vicious blade on himself. Everything hinged on whether Myko’s ability was a premonition of the future, or something contrived from fiction.

“Myko’s ability isn’t to show the future or the past, though if it’s already happened, it can be replayed.” Zia’s fingers tenderly combed through Myko’s hair. “His touch shows the recipient what their worst fear is.”

“So, my worst fear is Nero dying?”

“That’s often the case with mates, Eden.” Gently pulling Myko along with her onto the sofa opposite, Zia held him protectively. “My worst fear is losing Jeremiah and Myko: my mate and my son. Jeremiah’s, originally, was seeing his best friend die. Now, after all this time, it’s a mirror image of mine.”

“So, it’s not set in stone?” Eden’s throat was dry as she spoke the worst, her tongue sticking to the roof of her mouth. “Nero won’t resort to that if I were to pass tomorrow?”

Suddenly, emotion leeched from Zia’s face. The turmoil that’d been there only moments before vanished, as though she were intent on hiding something.

“I couldn’t say for certain.”

Suspicion flared within Eden. “What are you not telling me?”

“We mate once in our lives,” Zia whispered. “Matehood supersedes every other bond and relationship. Everything else takes second place.”

“He just met me!” The mist of frustrated tears blurred her vision. “We’ve known each other for less than a week, and he’sbuilt his entire life here without me. Why should he need me to be happy?”

“Because he’s been waiting for you,” Myko said in a timid voice from Zia’s arms. “He was happy because he knew you were coming. But he won’t be after you leave.”

A strangled sob choked from Eden’s throat, barely registering the look of devastation that morphed Zia’s features. Nero’s happiness—past and present—had rested on a vision of Eden.

***

Oahu was beautiful. The sun’s heated rays kissed her skin as she tilted her head toward the sky, eyes closed. Sea salt, the scent now forever linked with Nero in her soul, tinged the air.

His arms, gentle but possessive, cinched around her waist from behind. They stood there together, on the steep rocks that framed his house, enjoying the crash of the waves.

“I missed you.”

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