Page 20 of Moonlit Guardians
“About what?”
“About everything that’s transpired between you two and Eilish.”
“What about you, Aima? Have you spoken to Theren?” I lunge for her and she shoves against my chest. I’m too distracted to spar, so I toss aside my weapon and sit on one of the benches. Aima joins me.
“No. I have nothing to say yet,” she replies. “Theren’s love for me was never real. It was just convenient. It was Eilish he always loved and Eilish he always wanted. I was just a way to pass the time.”
“I’m sure he didn’t intend for that to be the case.”
“Regardless, it is.”
I look at her and sigh. “I’m sorry.”
“You don’t need to apologize, Cambion,” she responds. She gives me a small smile. “Dealing with the truth about Theren will take some time, but I’m not angry about it.”
“Why not?”
She shrugs and points to where Kolvar stands with the other soldiers. “The one person who has always been there for me is standing right there.”
“Kolvar?” I ask, surprised at her insinuation. At least, I think she’s insinuating that the two of them… are together?
She nods. “I may not have the history with Kolvar that I have with you and Theren, but history is no longer important.”
“What are you trying to tell me?”
“That looking back won’t get you anywhere. You can dwell in the torture your father put you through and the guilt that caused you to lose your way or... you can find a new way to move forward that might surprise you along the way.” Aima cracks her knuckles and pulls off the gauntlets she favors. “What are you going to do if Elioth rises like Morrigan said? You know he’ll come after you.”
“I wouldn’t even believe he was still alive if not for Theren saying he could still feel our father’s presence whenever he stared into the mirror,” I admit. “If Elioth returns, I’m not sure this world can survive it. And if his loyalty still lies with Abedon, then we’ve already lost.”
She shakes her head. Fiercely. “Don’t be so quick to underestimate us.”
I chuckle. “What are we really, other than just a bunch of wayward rebels all clinging to each other?”
She glares at me. “We’re stronger than you give us credit, Cambion.”
“Maybe so, but I hate the unknown. Pyre’s prophecies were all we had to guide us from one step to another.” I run a hand through my hair and watch the others training in the barracks. They’re improving. From day to day. “If we do this, none of those established and known prophecies will be able to guide our next move. We’ll be vulnerable.”
“Then you’d rather Pyre and I forfeit our lives for the sanctity of old prophecies that might not come true anyway?” she demands.
I look at her and shake my head. “That’s not what I’m saying. I support this decision, you know that.”
“Then?”
“I’m just saying I’m nervous about not knowing what the future holds.”
Aima shoves me playfully. “I’m scared too, you know? If this doesn’t work, then I die on an altar, fucking a guy I don’t have feelings for. If it does work, then I’ll most likely get killed in the battle against Abedon.”
“You think Abedon will free himself?”
“I know he will,” she says as she stands to leave as one of our soldiers approaches me with a message from King Galmer—the king requests my presence. Why? I’m not sure. I tell the man I’ll be there shortly and with a nod, he returns the way he came.
“The Abedon I remember used to toy with people’s minds far worse than Morrigan can and does,” Aima says, returning to our conversation. “I was always so afraid of being alone with him because his power… it’s like nothing I’d ever seen before.”
I study her with narrowed eyes. “Did Abedon ever try anything sexual with you?” I ask, surprised as the words empty from my mouth, but I ask them all the same.
She shakes her head and we watch as Kolvar catches a young soldier with a blow against the shoulder. I can see the pride in her eyes as she observes him. Then she faces me again. “No. Hiseyes were lecherous, but he kept his hands to himself. I can say that much for him. Little else.”
“I’m surprised and relieved, Aima. Some women were not so lucky.”
