“That is odd,” I said. I hadn’t seen Vivienne since she suddenly up and left for the Godsrealm nearly a year prior. I hadn’t realized she and Tobias were close. They were siblings, yes, but Vivienne had faced backlash when she and Marcus were bonded without her family’s blessing. Perhaps things had been resolved.
“I haven’t really spoken with Tobias. I only heard the news through Xavier,” Damien said. “I wish I could give you more insight.”
“Why did they go to the Godsrealm to begin with?” I asked.
“I’m not entirely sure,” Marcus said, his brows furrowing. “Vivienne seems to avoid my questions in her letters.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Damien said, lifting his attention from the paper on his desk.
“You’ve had enough on your plate,” Marcus said. “Besides, I’m sure she’s all right. I’m probably overthinking things.”
“It isn’t a diplomatic mission?” I asked, glancing at Damien, who seemed to contemplate that thought.
“I honestly don’t know what they’re there for,” he explained. “I don’t think they have family there, but I might be wrong. I’m not always involved in the actions of The Council. It could very well be a visit with one of the courts.”
It could very well have been. The Kyrios did act as emissaries if they chose, but usually, they sent someone in their stead. It wasn’t normal for them to bring their families.
“Perhaps it’s just a family vacation to repair things,” I suggested.
Marcus let out a low breath. “I’m eager to see her. The last letter I received from her, she sounded… I don’t know, off.”
I tilted my head. “What do you mean?”
He shrugged. “I can’t quite place it, but something about how she’s spoken to me in her letters since she left has just been...off. She left so suddenly to begin with, and there were a few times where the gaps between her responses to my letters went a bit longer than I’d like.”
“I wish I didn’t need you here as much as I do,” Damien said in a near apology.
Marcus shook his head. “I’m sure she’s all right.”
“Mated malescanbe a little overprotective at times,” I said in a teasing tone as I returned my attention to my work.
“Yeah,” Marcus said, narrowing his eyes on me, but he shook his head. “It’s been a little over a month since I received her last letter. I’m sure she’s been busy helping Tobias and Jesta with the new babe.”
“A new baby is a huge deal,” Damien said.
“I’m probably just being an overprotective mated male,” Marcus said, his voice full of sarcasm as he slid me a teasing grin.
I snickered.
“Thalia, can you take this to Salwa for her to log in the Archivallia?” Damien asked, gathering the mess of parchment papers before tapping them into a clean stack.
“Sure,” I said, rising from my seat and hurrying to his desk to take them.
“Try not to worry your little head, Marcus,” I said, nudging him. “I’m sure Vivienne is well and just as eager to see you as you are her.”
He gave me a half smile. “I’ll try not to.”
I left them to their work and hurried down the hall toward the small study, the one where Salwa worked when she wasn’t tending to the Archivallia. Muffled conversation reached my ears as I neared the door to Salwa’s office. I stepped closer and stiffened when I heard Lucia’s voice.
“...the complete file on Barrett’s case yet?”
Salwa’s voice was muffled and more distant, likely sitting at her desk at the far end of the room. “I finally found it. It was oddly misfiled.”
“That’s unlike you to be disorganized,” Lucia said, confusion lacing her voice.
“I haven’t handled this file since I cataloged it in”—the faint sound of flipping pages reached my ear—“1422. After his trial.”
I stiffened. Trial?
