Page 217 of The Call of Crimson
Elijah’s eyes glazing over as Aurelius stops his heart.
The closing notes bring together the orchestra of thunder, rain, piano, and violin.
The symphony in my mind quiets, leaving me with a numbing silence.
Somewhere beyond the silence, I recognize the sound of male voices. They’re heated. An argument.
“I heard her scream last night,” a deep voice says. Aurelius, I think.
“The whole bloody castle heard her scream, brother,” Ayden drawls.
“I thought you had the nightmares under control.”
“I’ve spent three weeks handling her, and Opheliah’s, nightmares. Forgive me if I slipped.”
Aurelius sighs. “I’m concerned. For them both.”
“It’s been three weeks, Aurelius. What did you expect?”
Three weeks.Had it really been three weeks since we burned Elijah?
“I expect you to take care of her,” Aurelius snarls.
“Watch your tone, brother.”
“Then do your fucking job since you won’t allow me to care for her,” Aurelius grits out.
“She is not your concern,” Ayden growls.
A humorless laugh. “She willalwaysbe my concern.”
Silence stretches between them.
“Tell me of the errand I sent you on,” Ayden says, abruptly changing the subject.
“Another body was found. The throat was slit, but there were no witnesses.”
Did he sayanotherbody?
I should feel something. Concern, sadness, intrigue. But I can’t even manage to summon mild surprise.
Nothing.
I lose interest, turning my attention back to the window and watching the snow fall.
My eyes slip closed, and the symphony starts again in my mind. The memories of Elijah flash behind my eyelids, my brain conjuring every moment of joy I had with him.
I lose myself in the vision of a Winter Solstice snowball fight, one of the few where Jade and Julian had joined us.
I’m shaken from it by Aurelius. He’s crouched in front of me, crimson-flecked eyes scanning my face with cool precision. Assessing.
Whatever he sees, he doesn’t like.
“You’re freezing.” Concern is etched on his face, wariness and exhaustion clear in the purple that paints his under eyes.
“Am I?”
Without warning, he scoops me up from the window seat and carries me to a chair near the fire. A heavy blanket is draped across my shoulders and wrapped tightly, cocooning me in the softest furs.
