Chapter 58

(Snowe's POV)

Valin texted me early in the morning, asking to talk. I was groggy, especially since Zai hadn't been letting me rest much lately. Still, I replied,

"Yeah... we can talk later today. When's a good time for you?" I smiled when I saw his daily math meme—it felt like forever since I got one. Two hours later, he replied:

"Are you free now?"

Zai was in the middle of groping me, so he pouted when I told him I promised to chat with Valin.

"Yeah... I'll meet you at the park," I responded. I got dressed and drove there using Zai's car. The weather was starting to get chilly, so the park was empty. I'm glad I'm not sensitive to the cold. Oddly, I caught myself staring at a bench beneath a tree. That bench felt nostalgic, but I didn't know why. When I looked at it, I felt like Valin and I had talked there before... but I couldn't remember the conversation. It had to be recent. When did my memory get so bad?

"Hey!" he called, arriving soon after. He bonked my head lightly. "Why are you just standing there? Let's sit down."

I rubbed my head and sat down beside him on the bench.

"Sorry to call you out here," he said.

"No, it's fine! We're friends. Plus, I thought you'd totally abandon me after I moved out, especially after you got a girlfriend. So I'm happy you asked to talk."

Valin hunched his shoulders.

"You're my friend. You're my sister. You're also the only person I can talk to about this."

When he seemed indifferent about me moving, it felt like I was the only one who valued our friendship.

"What's going on?" I asked.

He sighed heavily. "Lisa said she loves me."

Hadn't it only been two weeks since they started dating?

"Oh... wow. Well, do you love her too?"

He frowned. "I'm not sure... and I also don't know if I should take it seriously since she said it during sex."

I wish I had brought a bottle of water to stay calm.

"Does... that make it less valid?"

He looked me in the eyes. "It's happened before. With women I knew couldn't have loved me."

"Oh. I see." I clammed up, unsure of what to say. Is Valin such a beast in bed that he makes girls think they're in love? I'm pretty sure I've never blurted out love confessions during sex. I don't even want to think about it—but it's hard to stop.

"I... feel like she means it. She might not be in love yet, but I think she really loves you," I offered.

"That sucks," Valin muttered, slouching.

"What? Don't you like her?"

"Of course, I like her. But her loving me means she won't get bored and leave one day. And if we stay together long-term, I'll eventually have to confess what I am to a human. Humans might not feel things as intensely as we do. They tend to have short relationships, and with all the prejudice about my people, she might believe I manipulated her feelings with powers she can't even understand. She might even fear me. I'd rather she dumped me because she got bored."

I patted his surprisingly muscular shoulder. What has he been eating? No, focus.

"You're the idiot if you think she can get bored with you."

"But—"

"You're so weird and random. It would take decades for someone to get bored with you. I bet you never stuck around long enough to let anyone get bored."

He huffed, then chuckled softly. "Fair."

He tilted his head back to look at the sky. "Even if she loves me and accepts what I am... I'd have to form a pact or create a soul crystal for her to wear. Otherwise, her life will be over before I've even lived a fraction of mine. She'd have to change her entire genetic makeup to be with me. She might not even be considering the consequences of her words because she's subconsciously aware of her mortality and rushing to bond."

"No! I don't think she said it lightly. I know her. I'm shocked she moved so fast, honestly... Oh. Oh! I see the problem. Yep, you love her too."

"Idiot," he muttered, frowning.

"Rude!"

"I didn't mean to say that out loud. But... you're just so stupid sometimes, Snowe. It's tiring talking to you."

"You're one to talk!" I shouted. Then I sighed. "You don't want to lose her. You're thinking about her feelings and considering doing something to let her stay with you forever if she consents. Sounds like love to me."

He groaned.

"My feelings are probably just limerence, coupled with attention deprivation and an attachment disorder."

"I have no idea what that means, but it doesn't matter! Just stay with her. You'll figure out how you feel. And if the time comes for you to confess what you are to her, call me. I can vouch that you're not an evil soul-sucking monster. Stop panicking—you'll just confuse her."

She's probably a wreck right now, blurting out she loves him and then getting left alone.

Valin smiled softly. "Fair. I was also thinking of subtly healing her. It seems her recovery can't keep up with her sex drive and..."

"La la la, I can't hear you!" I shouted, covering my ears.

Valin laughed loudly. "Fine, I'll stop. I didn't know the subject would embarrass you so much—especially since you're the one who had that dream about me."

"Dream?" I asked. The mention gave me a headache.

"Did you forget? That's too bad. I planned on teasing you about it for years."

I punched his arm, making him laugh again.

"Maybe you should look for new friends to torment."

He shook his head. "That requires talking to new people. Why would I do that when I have you?"

Warm fuzzies filled my chest, so I mushed his face and stood up.

"Fine, be the weirdo whose only close friend is his sister-in-law!"

Valin fell over laughing. "I will!" he shouted. I started stomping to my car out of embarrassment when he called again: "Thanks, Snowe! Oh, and if you ever need someone to talk to, call me!"

This feels nice. I never had a brother before, but now I do—thanks to Zai.

When I got home, Zai was on the porch, still sulking.

"What did he want?" he asked. I sat beside him.

"Relationship advice."

"...From you?" Zai replied in a tone that made me want to hit him.

"I'm his only friend!"

That explanation seemed enough. Zai laid his head in my lap and sighed.

"Why couldn't you do it over the phone?"

"Probably because he didn't want anyone else to overhear... including you."

"Why couldn't I hear?"

"Because you'd ridicule him. He's more sensitive than he lets on."

Zai nodded like he understood. "The woman who raised me is looking for me."

"Your mom?"

He groaned and scratched his head. "Not my mom!"

I jumped at his shouting, then gently stroked his head.

"Who is she?"

"Tana. She trained us and awakened part of my potential. I mentioned her before."

My stomach churned. That vile woman is looking for him? The one who stole his virginity and encouraged him to kill?

"Oh... How did she find you?" I tried to hide my disgust.

"Markis was supposed to keep track of me, but lost me. Then he gave her Cera's contact information, and Cera ratted me out. Luckily, he only knows where we used to live."

I had almost forgotten who Cera was. I'm just glad it wasn't Zai who invited her over.

"I'm sure RJ won't tell her where we are," I offered.

"I have to talk to her." Zai's response threw me off. He looked serious.

"She was supposed to be dead. But she's alive, and she must have something important to tell me. Otherwise, she wouldn't be here. I should at least hear her out."

"And after that, we kick her butt," I offered.

Zai laughed. "No. And you're not meeting her."

I gasped and glared. "Why not?!"

Zai shrugged. "She's likely still hung up on me. It's better if she doesn't know what you look like. She's an ancient being with more knowledge of affinities, rituals, and runes than anyone in Afaria. She hasn't even revealed her element, and she's won every fight I've seen. I can't let her see you, but I will have you on call so you can hear everything."

I'm not sure I like how this is going.

"Rai told me she got her face fixed, too. I have to see that."

I leaned down and bit his ear. He yelped.

"Ouch?! Why?!"

"So you remember who you belong to," I warned.

Zai stared at me for a moment before hugging me.

"Of course I remember. It's you."

Then he started kissing me feverishly, tearing at my clothes.

"I'm just curious about how she looks. I still know I'm yours," he murmured.

"Zai! We're on the porch!"

He threw his shirt into the bushes. "Oh, I hadn't noticed," he said, undoing his pants.

"Zai?!" I screamed, covering my eyes. Why am I still surprised?

"I just... need you close right now," Zai admitted softly. Suddenly, where we were no longer mattered to me.

I gave up protesting. The truth was, I wanted him too—and I didn't want to wait another moment.