Page 20 of Stone Sentinels

“I wanted to come after you, Cambion.”

“No, you didn’t.” I take a deep breath because I feel my anger stirring. And that’s not what I want. “I’m not angry, but I need to know why you made the decisions you did.”

Theren runs his fingers through his midnight-blue hair. It’s short now, cut close to the scalp along the sides while being no more than finger-length on top, even as a curl hangs loosely in front of his brow. His eyes are the same honey-gold as mine, reminding me of the fields of wheat in which we used to get lost as children. But behind that familiar gaze is something dark, something I don’t recognize.

“The decisions I made… weren’t my own.”

“What the bloody hell is that supposed to mean?”

Theren sighs as if the weight of the world rests on his shoulders. “It means there is someone... someone who controls Variant and me.”

I nod, already believing this to be the case. “I’m aware.” I see the surprise on my brother’s face as my words register.

“And do you know who this person is?”

I shake my head and rest my hand on Theren’s shoulder. “No. But I wish to understand everything. If you didn’t betray me of your own free will, then you and I can find whoever this person is who influences you and set you free. It’s simple.”

“It’s anything but simple, Cambion,” he responds as he shakes his head and shrugs away from me. “There are forces at work here that you don’t understand. You’re still missing most of the pieces,” he continues. He paces across the floor. “I know Aima has sided with you and your allies, that she seeks refuge with the necromancer.”

“Yes.”

He nods and looks over at me. “I didn’t order her execution.”

“I know,” I say with a nod. Though I knew Theren would never endanger Aima, I feel a sudden flood of relief as he confirms my suspicions.

“But I don’t love her the way I once did. Something changed when Anona told Variant about the existence of the angel.”

“The angel?” I repeat, surprised.

“Eilish,” Theren finishes.

“After I met Eilish, I no longer saw Aima as my one true mate. How could I? Aima is strong and resilient, but—”

“Aima loves you, Theren. Don’t give that up for a succubus.”

“Succubus?”

My jaw is tight. “Eilish is not fully angel. She’s also succubus,” I announce, wondering if giving this information to my brother is a mistake. I heartily hope not.

He chuckles. “That matters not to me, brother. She could be a fucking sea hag from the darkest depths and I would still find myself… taken by her.”

I flinch, moving further away from Theren as he continues to pace. “You would give up the love of a good woman, and a close friend, for a she-demon?” He doesn’t respond and I take his silence as answer enough. I shake my head. “I don’t understand you, Theren.”

“Did you ever, brother?”

“I guess it will be easy for you when Aima leaves then,” I say with a shrug.

“And where is Aima going?” he asks sarcastically as he shakes his head. “You said yourself she loves me and I know that’s true. She wouldn’t leave me so quickly.”

“She does love you, but, like you, there are other things occupying her heart at the moment.”

“Well, I must speak with her.”

“You can’t,” I reply. Something changes in Theren, and he no longer appears before me as the brother I mourn. He looks every bit the Unseelie King who betrayed me on the battlefield. I feel sick to my stomach at the sight of him. “Think twice about doing whatever you have planned, Theren. The others will come for me if you attempt to hold me captive.”

“The others will have quite a different perspective of you shortly,” my brother drawls.

“What do you mean?”

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