Page 68 of A Song of Air
It was a truth that was difficult to contend with.
Iona pushed away from the tree and curled her fingers into her palm. Her digits hardened to ice, cutting into her skin. Her muscles tensed, and with a fierce cry, she threw her icy fist out at the tree before her. Bark chipped away, creating an indent in the trunk.
Her guilt over the destruction was immediate, so she pulled away, turning as footsteps sounded behind her.
Julius emerged from the shadows, his ginger brows creased with concern as he approached.
“I’m fine.” Iona turned away from him, even as the lie tasted bitter on her lips.
Julius didn’t speak. At least, not until she felt the warmth of his mountainous body at her back. His arms came around her, caging her against the tree.
“You don’t have to lie to me,” he whispered.
Iona sniffled. “I’m fine.” The tears sprang to her eyes once again.
“Iona—”
“I shouldn’t expect her to be the exact same person. I mean, at least her complete disregard for her own well-being is still on par with who she used to be. That much hasn’t changed.”
“Iona—”
“It would be even stranger if she didn’t help others. It would be so unlike her that—”
“Iona—”
“I just worry that her energy will wane. What if she gets hurt? What if she—”
“Iona!” His voice came out firm, rumbling against her backside. She jolted as his hands crashed against her, whipping her around in his arms. He held her close, his arms encircling her waist, pressing his palms against her lower back to bring her closer still.
She looked up into his eyes, and the sympathy she found deep within his green depths had her throat constricting. The tears immediately jumped to her eyes, and she tried as hard as she could to hold them back. But Julius, as always, saw right through her.
“Let it out, love. It’s okay.”
The first sob came out and she couldn’t stop the rest that followed. Iona buried her face in his shirtfront, inhaling his pine scent, of forest and earth. Her tears soaked his front, and her mate only pulled her closer.
“You are allowed to mourn the sister you knew. You are allowed to mourn who she is now. Let your tears flow, love. Mourn the death of the life you knew; I know that’s why you’re really weeping.”
Was it? Was that why the tears were flowing? Because of what this world had done not only to her sister but to her as well? It had hardened the both of them. It had changed them, made them into something Iona never thought they’d be.
“Weep, love,” Julius encouraged, rubbing his palm against her back. “And then you’ll go back out there and face your sister and apologize.”
Iona made a noise of disbelief in the back of her throat but didn’t argue, because Julius kept her pressed tightly to him, not giving her a chance to reel back and glare at him.
“You will apologize, and so will she. And you will move on from this. Because she is your sister. Your family. And Mana has given you a gift, one that not everyone has the privilege of getting.”
Iona sobbed harder. “You’re right.”
“I know.” He kissed the top of her head. “And now that the truth is out, now that you’ve mourned, you’ll only grow stronger. With Malika at your side. Do you understand?”
She choked on an oncoming sob. “I understand.”
“Good. Because life is too short for grudges and anger. So let it out, and let it go.”
Her hands gripped him tight, and she took his advice, letting her tears fall until she had nothing left to cry anymore.
Julius was right. Seeing her sister in this new environment, knowing what had happened to her, how much she’d suffered, hadn’t been the life Iona wanted for her. Despite all that, she was alive. Her sister was alive.
And that was a gift from Mana.
