“Don’t say his name. You are not him.” Tinlorray breathed slowly, remaining silent until her wings settled against her back. “I am trying to move on, Caleb, and seeing you reminds me of what I’ve lost.
“I won’t speak against you or Prince Zoltilvoxfyn for what happened, because I know neither of you tried to do this. It’s not your fault. But the fact remains that you, not Yolkeltod, inhabit that body.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I don’t need your apologies. I need you to leave me alone.”
I nodded, then stopped, remembering drakcol didn’t do that. “I can do that, but, Tinlorray, please remember I’m here for you and I would like to be friends.”
She did not respond.
“Please, Tinlorray.”
“Go, Caleb, and don’t come back.” Without a second glance, she walked away.
Something snapped within me. I felt oddly abandoned. Tears dripped down my cheeks. “Tinlorray,” I begged, but she didn’t stop.
I stared at the door, unable to pull my gaze away. Caleb had been gone since this afternoon. I thought it might help him to have some space, and truthfully, I hadn’t known what to say to him—I still didn’t. Now, the sun was beginning to set. Clearly, I’d made yet another mistake.
My instincts demanded I search for him, or at the very least ping him, but Caleb didn’t want me to. At least I didn’t think he did. I truly didn’t know. I didn’t know anything anymore. My mate was a stranger, and it was my fault. I hadn’t even asked him what he needed; I’d assumed, like an idiot. Which I was. Everything, absolutely everything, was my fault. I’d sworn to keep him safe, and yet he was somewhere without me, possibly in danger.
He had a touchstone. If he needed me, he would ping me or I hoped he would. Caleb would, wouldn’t he? He knew he could rely on me, didn’t he? I shoved my hand through my hair, tail thrashing. I didn’t know anymore. I had failed my mate so completely again that maybe he didn’t trust me anymore. He would be justified.
No. I closed my eyes. Much as my mate-brother Seth had said, not everything was about me. Yes, I had made mistakes, but Caleb had also chosen to leave. Though, I should have been more careful. I shoved a hand through my hair. It was hard to fight the cloud of worthlessness. Everything inside of me felt as if I alone bore the guilt, but it wasn’t that simple. I knew it. In this situation, there was no blame. It was simply hard for both of us.
My touchstone warmed as a deep voice echoed in my ears, “Zoltilvoxfyn.”
“Caleb,” I shouted, yanking the stone out of my pocket. “Where are you?”
“Sunshine,” he said breathlessly.
“Where are you, Mate?”
“I went to the city.” He panted, stopping.
“Are you injured?” I asked, racing out the door, my wings spreading.
“I went to see Tinlorray. She doesn’t want to see me. She doesn’t want to talk to me. I feel so guilty. She was crying, Fyn, and I couldn’t do anything. It’s all my fault. This is all my fault. I’m a fucking thief.”
I heard the tears in his voice.
“I walked around for a while before heading back.”
“Where are you?” I demanded, a moment away from finding his location and sending a local patrol to him.
“I tried to make it back, but I can’t.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I hurt, Sunshine. I can’t go any further. Please, help me.”
My soul thrashed. “I’m coming, Mate.” I moved toward a monitor, refusing to disconnect from Caleb. “NAID, where is Caleb?”
“Unknown name,” it replied. He hadn’t been added yet to the system, but there had to be dozens of Yolkeltods.
I banished the silhouette and logged into Kalvoxrencol’s system. “Edith.”
“Hello, Prince.”
