The last of my brothers, and the one nearest to me in age. He was also my closest friend.
“Put him through to my bedroom, please,” I said.
“Yes, Prince.”
Zoltilvoxfyn’s long white hair hung over his black scales that were broken up with silver and white accents. The septum of his long nose was pierced with a gold ring and his tapered ears were threaded with gold earrings ending in long chains. His deep green eyes watched me.
“What’s going on, Pest?” he demanded.
“What do you mean, Bloom?”
“Our brothers have spoken to me, and we all know something is wrong. Does your Seth Harris not want you? Is he planning to leave?”
My mouth opened, but my words faltered. Did he want to leave? Possibly. Especially after our fight. I didn’t want him to go, but I couldn’t force him to accept me.
“Kalvoxrencol, talk to me.”
There was a reason Hallonnixmin had saved Zoltilvoxfyn for last; he could force me to speak no matter the circumstance. Conversely, I was always able to make Zoltilvoxfyn talk, even when he didn’t want to. A weapon my older brothers had wielded against us multiple times throughout our lives.
The story spilled out of my lips—everything, unfiltered and without reservation. My words wouldn’t travel past Zoltilvoxfyn. He might relate generals to our family, but he would keep the particulars to himself.
“You’re an idiot,” Zoltilvoxfyn said.
“Excuse me?”
“You yelled at your Seth Harris for something that wasn’t his fault and that he handled remarkably well.” I opened my mouth to defend myself, but he kept talking. “You were frightened, but view it from his perspective. He was swept away by the crowd, defended himself, then you bullied him when he returned.”
“I did not bully him.”
“You forced him to go to the medbay. Your Seth Harris can make his own decisions.”
I crossed my arms, tail thrashing. “He is mine.”
“For now.”
His words were a knife to the gut.
“I don’t say this to hurt you, but you do this, Kalvoxrencol. You hide, and then lash out. I don’t want you to miss out on the best thing that has ever happened to you,” he said.
“What do you suggest?”
“Talk to him.”
Pimtimzol had said the same thing, yet I found it difficult to do so. I had many indiscretions in my past, and all were marks against my honor. I didn’t deserve Seth, but how I needed him.
“What if he doesn’t want me?”
My older brother met my gaze. “Then you let us hold you together until you can stand on your own.”
I was unable to even imagine such a future. If Seth left, he would take my soul with him, and I was unlikely to survive. No one, not even my brothers, would be able to rescue me from such a loss.
“He’s a warrior soul?” Zoltilvoxfyn asked.
“He is.”
“Are you alright?”
“Yes.”
