Page 8 of The Call of Crimson
“I think all the gods have a cruelty to them—even if it’s small,” I muse.
“Perhaps you’re right, but I digress,” he says, brushing a lock of hair behind my ear. “I know you don’t believe me, but I am not your villain, Breyla. I don’t wish to see you in pain.”
“Pain is all I know right now.” The words spill out before I can stop them.
“Then allow me to help,” he pleads again, “I would have given anything to make the dreams stop after my father died. Please trust I’m just trying to spare you from that pain.”
After a long moment, my shoulders sag. I nod.
Taking me by the hand, he leads me back to bed. I crawl in and stare up at him, waiting to feel the gentle caress of his Gift. He leans down and presses a kiss to my temple. The subtle touch of his magic caresses my mind, and I lower my mental shields to let it in.
“Was that completely necessary?”
“The kiss?” He smirks and glances toward the door. “Not even a little. But Aurelius is still watching from the hall. And I do love pissing him off.”
“Fucking territorial male bullshit,” I groan as something crashes against the other side of my wall in Aurelius’ room.
“Good night, Breyla,” he says with a chuckle, and slips out.
With the touch of his magic, it takes only moments for sleep to claim me again.
CHAPTER TWO
BREYLA
“Are you ready?” Elijah asks, though no one answers.
Aurelius, Ayden, Jade, and Ophelia gather in a circle around us. Ayden had dragged me from my room this morning for what he called a “family meeting” regarding the night of my mother’s death. It was awfully presumptuous, considering I barely knew him, and Aurelius was hardly someone I felt a familial connection to. They were the only true family in the room, a fact that Aurelius did not enjoy me pointing out.
Despite my distrust, I wanted answers. I didn’t mind gathering everyone with Ayden since I hadn’t given him a chance to explain his involvement or what he did—or didn’t—know.
Elijah revealed that in her final moments, my mother had shared a flood of memories with him. Until now, I hadn’t been ready to face them. In truth, I’m still not, but Ayden didn’t give me a choice. He carried me out against my will, despite the punches I threw at his kidneys.
I sit curled in an oversized armchair, Ophelia beside me. The two of us choose the furthest spot from every male in the room, which seems like the safest course after last night.
“How are you?” I ask Ophelia, ignoring Elijah’s question.
“I’m…here.” Her voice cracks. She looks as shattered as I feel. “He’s just… gone. Layne was the only family I truly cared about, who cared about me. And it doesn’t feel real. It’s like I’m walking through a dream, just waiting to wake up and find that none of this ever happened.”
I take her hand in my own. “I know exactly what you mean.”
Her head drops to my shoulder, her body trembling as a single tear slips down her cheek.
“My mother once told me that there are two types of family—the kind we are born into and the kind we choose. They’re different, but both beautiful. I need you to know, you’re part of my chosen family, Ophelia. We aren’t alone in this world.”
She gently squeezes my hand. “I choose you, too, Breyla.”
I glance back toward Elijah. Ayden and Aurelius flank him, leaning against the wall with arms crossed. Aurelius glares daggers at Ayden, who wears his usual permanent smirk.
Ayden waves a hand for him to start. “Elijah, the floor is yours.”
Elijah swallows slowly, his jaw clenching as he heaves a deep breath in, then finally out. His eyes glaze over as he searches for the words he wants to say. “In her final moments, the queen shared memories that answer a lot of our questions. I won’t lie, some of them are difficult to watch, so I’ll spare you those for now.”
I cut in, choking on the question that’s haunted me since the night she died, “Why did she kill my father?”
“The short answer—she had no choice.” Elijah pauses. “And… he asked her to.”
Bile pools in the back of my throat, the hot acidic burn making me choke back tears. “Wh-what?”
