Zal charged forward, every muscle burning with the relentless determination forged from years of pain, sacrifice, and desperation. He had poured his heart, soul, and sanity into transcending the cruel limits of his bloodline, molding power from the merciless dark. He gripped his black crystal sword until his knuckles whitened, the blade humming fiercely with the corrosive fury he had so painstakingly harnessed.
Anit stood unarmed, save for deceptively fragile vines coiled around her arm. Her serene composure only fueled the inferno in Zal’s veins. She deflected each brutal strike of his sword with grace—every parry whispering of his inadequacy, every deflection mocking his futile struggle.
His breath came in ragged bursts as he braced himself, every inch of his body aflame. Cuts laced his arms, stinging like a thousand sparks. Yet beneath the torrent of pain, a deeper ache gnawed at his heart—the dawning realization that all his hard-won strength, years of research, and every forbidden experiment lay in shambles before Anit Izuna’s unyielding might.
He refused to accept defeat. Not after enduring the corrosive injections of kara ot that scorched his veins black. Not after forging this very sword to channel the toxic magik he had devoted centuries to taming. He needed to prove that his lineage did not define him, that he could seize a destiny beyond his blood.
Yet Anit stood unscathed, her single vine draped languidly around her arm. The sentinels around the room gawked at Zal with pity instead of the awe he craved. He wanted their terror, their reverence, their acknowledgment that he could claim the Fox Clan’s throne. Instead, they watched him as though he were a frenzied beast, battered by Anit’s calm, immeasurable power.
“Don’t hold back,” she said softly, her voice laced with unsettling gentleness.
Humiliation and fury twisted in Zal’s chest. With a ferocious cry, he lunged again, the black crystal sword crackling with dark lightning. He slashed hard, severing the vine that coiled out of her hand to meet his attacks. Chunks of dripping greenery fell, hissing against his blade’s corrosive edge. For one fraught moment, triumph flared—tangible proof that he could wound her.
But that spark died the instant Anit unleashed her sealed aura. A tidal wave of pure, radiant magik burst from her, shaking the very walls. The severed vine pieces sprang to life at her call, morphing into even thicker, more lethal branches. Leaves unfurled like countless tiny blades, each keening for blood.
Zal’s breath hitched in horror as the fragments at his feet disintegrated under the brilliance of her power, then re-formed into cruel, living branches. They lashed around him, absorbing the corrosive energy of his sword, their razor leaves shredding his arms and soaking his tunic with blood. It felt like a swarm of wasps was stinging every inch of his flesh, yet he pressed on, determined to complete his attack. He had sacrificed too much to falter now.
Her power choked the air, crushing the breath from his lungs. With every step forward he managed, the vines tightened, tearing at his body and forcing him back. He staggered, consumed by desperation.
Reality itself seemed to conspire against him, every movement a tortured struggle. He wrested one final step from the madness, sword raised—only to be slammed away by a surge of branches that hurled him over a shattered bench. Splintered wood gouged his skin, and his own body betrayed him, nerves screaming in revolt.
He rose again, propelled by the urge to mount an all-out attack. But when he managed to get within striking distance of Anit, those vines whipped around him with merciless speed, binding him in a suffocating prison. His furious cry echoed through the domed court as they threw him back, shattering another bench beneath his weight. He collapsed again.
Dazed and gasping, Zal tried in vain to stand. The onlookers’ murmurs brushed his ears like distant thunder. He still believed, dimly, that he could fight, but the branches coiled around his legs and torso with inexorable force, pinning his arms. His black crystal sword flickered and dimmed, its corrosive magik eclipsed by Anit’s superior power.
Exhausted, Zal hung in the unyielding embrace of those vines. Every agonizing sacrifice, every sleepless night spent honing his body and mind, now felt pitifully small—crushed beneath the sheer magnitude of her might. Anit’s gaze, more piercing than any blade, stripped him of his last shreds of pride. His heart pounded with the choking despair of absolute defeat.
The living wood lifted him upright before the clan’s goddess.
Anit stepped closer, her nine tails fanned behind her in silent command, each glimmering with ancient, boundless power. In that moment, Zal realized how utterly insurmountable she was. Every wound on his body, every ounce of his will, mocked him with the truth: He would never surpass her.
With a gentle touch, she stroked the writhing vines. They tightened around Zal’s chest, wringing out a strangled gasp. Her voice rang in the hush: “You have put up an admirable fight, Zal. I truly appreciate your efforts. But it is not your place to move me from my throne. That task”—her eyes flickered with quiet sorrow— “belongs to one far more powerful than I.”
Her words wounded his soul and tore at every dark dream and aspiration he ever harbored. Overwhelmed by heartbreak, Zal surrendered to the unbreakable weight of Anit’s power. All he had ever sacrificed for this moment was lost, and the cold ache of futility crushed him in its iron grip. He had lost—and nothing could ever change that.
***
The Inter Clan Court was in disarray: benches lay broken, and the windows’ glass had cracked beneath Anit’s power. The sentinels unable to withstand the weight of her overwhelming aura had stepped out of the court, but others continued struggling to maintain the barrier. At last, Anit drew back the intensity of her aura and sealed it, allowing her fellow clan members to breathe more easily. Closing her eyes, she let out a soft, calming breath, then motioned for the sentinels holding the barrier to drop it.
Nela entered the court, followed by her uncle, Moon Bao, the wisest of the Bao Sentinel Branch. She stepped aside, letting him precede her into the room.
Moon inclined his head slightly once he stood before Anit.
“Thank you for intervening,” he said, his gaze lingering on Zal, who now knelt, held in place by Anit’s vines.
“No need for thanks. It was my oversight, and this was long overdue,” Anit said. “Assist Anael with a new election cycle and clean up the ranks in this court. Vet everyone who worked under him. Use Lua Wadi for those who may be connected to the mortal realm. I want the Sentinel Branches to set up a checks-and-balances system, so we never face this situation again.”
“I’ll arrange it with the other sentinel heads,” Moon said.
Anit met his gaze. “Thank you for broaching the subject, Moon Bao. I would never have thought to look into this without your comments on Anael.”
Meanwhile, Nela organized the Bao officers, restoring the court, casting spells over the broken benches to repair them, and healing the windows’ shattered glass. Sentinel officers from the other branches filed back into the room while the Bao officers managed the chaos.
The lead judge cleared his throat, catching Anit’s attention. Five judges had returned to the bench.
“Zal Izuna, Tara of the Anael Sentinel, stand and hear your sentence. By unanimous decision, you are found guilty of violating clan laws, unlawfully maintaining leadership, harming an heir apparent, and sowing strife in the mortal realm. You shall be stripped of your positions and confined, pending further inquiry into your associates—including Lua Wadi and any who aided your crimes.”
At the lead judge’s sharp gesture, the Bao Sentinels stepped forward to arrest Tara. Glow-woven restraints looped around her wrists, neutralizing her powers. Tara let out a choked sob. Zal did not look up as the sentinels lifted him to his feet and paused before Anit.
Anit’s stare raked over Zal. “You will answer for every year Tani spent in pain, for every life shattered in the ekho realm because of your schemes. The Sentinel Branches shall share your misdeeds throughout the clan, ensuring no one repeats your mistakes.” She lifted her chin. “Lady Nela, I place their confinement in your Bao Sentinels’ care.”
Nela inclined her head. “Yes, Lady Izuna. We will see that justice is served.”
Zal was led away by Moon Bao and his troop of sentinels, forced to pass clusters of ekho who refused to meet his eyes. Tara followed, her composure in tatters.
As the two conspirators disappeared behind the court doors, tension ebbed in a wave of chatter. Nela Bao thanked the judges as they left the room, gathering her scrolls and evidence with the help of her assistants. Many approached her with questions, but she deftly answered only what protocol allowed.
Anit flexed her left arm, relieved that the numbness from her wound had faded. She surveyed the bustling hall, the swirl of relief and condemnation chafing at her. Justice, she knew, was only the first step. Zal’s sentencing could not erase centuries of wrongs. Nor could it restore Tani’s lost innocence. She thought of Tani in the mortal realm, torn between love and immortality, burdened by the Septum’s trial and those cursed cuffs on his wrists.
Guilt twisted inside her: she should have been at his side.
With one last lingering glance at the spot where Zal had knelt, Anit sighed. No one else will separate me from my son.
Her eyes burned with tears she refused to shed in public. She would visit Tani in the mortal realm soon to see whether he had won his beloved’s heart. But for now, at least, Zal’s hidden manipulations lay exposed before the entire Inter Clan Court. And that, she told herself, was a beginning.
She blinked, realizing she now owed Cale a debt. How strange it was to be in the god of calamity’s debt. Shaking her head, she left the court with a shimmer, making her way to the log house.
****
On Saturday, two days after Sunu arrived at Elderwood, Tani woke up early to make breakfast for the household. He took care not to disturb Dante, wanting him to sleep in. It felt good having his beloved in his bed; Tani had spent more than a few minutes just watching Dante sleep. He smiled at the memory of scratching Dante’s beard before leaving their bed.
In the kitchen, Tani retrieved Turkish sausages from the fridge, along with storage containers with feta cheese and cottage cheese, plus a jar of the sour cherry jam Hera loved canning for Deniz. He placed his loot on the counter and moved to the vegetable rack to gather cucumbers, tomatoes, and a large watermelon. He was rinsing the vegetables at the sink when Hera shuffled into the kitchen, her braids loose around her shoulders. She wore a long white T-shirt and bunny slippers.
“Morning, sleepyhead,” Tani greeted when she detoured to hug him. He kissed her forehead and smiled as she perched on a chair at the island table.
“Why are you up so early?” Hera asked. “I was sure with Dante here you’d sleep in.”
“I wanted to make him a good breakfast spread,” Tani said. “It’s Saturday. Let’s have a wonderful one.”
“Let’s,” Hera said with a nod, then propped her chin on her right hand. “Babu, you look so happy. It’s amazing to witness. I don’t think I’ve seen you smile as much as you do when Dante is around.”
Tani smiled and turned off the water. He placed the cucumbers and tomatoes in a bowl. Taking a knife from the rack, he brought the bowl to Hera.
“He makes me happy,” Tani said. “Slice these. Don’t forget to make the cucumber slices thin. Deniz hates it when they’re too thick.”
Hera got up to rinse her hands and patted them dry with a paper towel, tossing it into the trash bin before returning to her seat. “Will he move in?” she asked as she accepted the cutting board Tani handed her.
Tani frowned, remembering Dante’s invitation for him to call Artri House his home.
“What would you say if I told you I might move in with him?” Tani asked, moving the watermelon aside on the sink counter. He would cut it last. He retrieved oranges from the fruit rack and brought them to the sink, glancing at Hera, who kept quiet.
“Would that mean we wouldn’t see you often?” Hera asked. “Would you disappear the way you do when none of us can reach you for months?”
“No,” Tani said, shaking his head. “If I move out, it’ll be to Dante’s family home at the Arturo Vineyard. You know where that is. You can bring Deniz to visit. She can explore the vineyard and play in the olive grove. Dante wouldn’t object. We’d still visit here often. The conservancy continues—even with you and Tom running it, I’d help whenever you needed me. I wouldn’t just vanish.”
“It sounds like a wonderful plan,” Dante said as he entered the kitchen, making Hera and Tani turn to look at him.
He looked delicious in white lounge pants and a matching long-sleeved T-shirt. His figure was perfection—hard in all the right places. Remembering how it felt to be wrapped around him, Tani exhaled softly and met Dante’s knowing brown gaze. His heart skipped violently with joy. Dante’s hair was loose around his shoulders. How could a man look so good first thing in the morning?
Hera cleared her throat, and Tani turned back to the sink.
“Morning, Hera,” Dante said, giving her a one-armed hug. “Are we having cucumbers and tomatoes for breakfast?”
“Morning,” Hera said. “Breakfast is Babu’s show today. I’m just following instructions. But I see sausages and cheese on the counter, so there’ll be a nice spread.”
“Good, because I’m starving,” Dante said, coming around the table to where Tani stood by the sink. He put an arm around Tani and kissed his cheek. “Morning, baby. You left me in bed. I woke up looking for you.”
Tani smiled as Dante leaned in to kiss his lips. “I wanted to let you sleep in. It’s Saturday, after all. Hera and I decided today should be laid-back.”
“Laid-back sounds good,” Dante said. “Should I start the tea?”
“Mm.” Tani smiled when Dante squeezed in beside him to wash his hands, stealing another kiss before moving to the cooking range to set up the tea.
Tani placed the wet oranges in a bowl, then turned to Hera at the island. He paused, noticing she was staring at him with a wide smile.
“What?” Tani asked, retrieving another cutting board and knife after placing the oranges on the table.
“Nothing. I support your choice to move in with him,” Hera said, concentrating on slicing cucumbers. “Do I get free wine, Dante? Deniz and I will be visiting you often at the vineyard.”
Tani glanced at Dante, who winked at him.
“I’ll even show you how to decant wine,” Dante said.
“Wow, that sounds interesting,” Hera said. “I’ve always wondered how wine goes from barrel to bottle. I’d love to learn more.”
“Mom will be excited to have someone interested in the process,” Dante said. “I spent too much time chasing digs in ancient places and only half-listened when she taught me. She’ll be happy to have someone truly interested in the art.”
Tani worked in comfortable silence, listening to Hera and Dante discuss winemaking, the vineyard, and Nora’s exploits in the business. He sliced oranges and arranged them on a platter, then got a second platter ready for Hera’s sliced cucumbers and tomatoes. Dante tended to the tea, and when the first batch was ready, he poured three glasses for Hera, Tani, and himself. They paused to sip between tasks.
Hera sliced the feta cheese while Tani divided the cottage cheese into separate containers to place around the dining table.
“Nora has an appointment on Monday with the conservancy,” Hera said at one point. “Artri House is now included in the roster of the ekho-blessed, and she’s willing to share her knowledge with anyone struggling. I invited her to discuss possible outreach projects. Do you think she’d be open to joining them?”
“Oh, she’d love it,” Dante said. “Mom likes feeling included, and she’s happiest when she’s helping.”
“Fantastic,” Hera said. “I love the book she gave me. It’s helped guide Deniz’s gifts. I can’t wait to learn more.”
“Learn more of what?” Tom asked as he entered the kitchen. He wore shorts, a T-shirt, and sandals, clearly ready for a relaxed day. “Morning, everyone.”
“Morning,” Dante and Hera chorused.
“Babu, you’re making breakfast?” Tom asked, accepting a glass of tea from Dante.
“Hm,” Tani answered.
Tom sipped his tea and nodded to the sausages. “I can help with those.”
“Okay,” Tani said with a smile, watching Tom gather the grilling pan, tongs, and a platter for the sausages.
“Hera, what are you learning?” Tom asked as he turned on the burner.
“How to guide ekho-blessed children from Nora Arturo,” Hera said, finishing with the feta cheese. She arranged the feta cheese cubes in three different bowls and got up. Taking eight plates from the cupboard, she started setting the dining table. “Tom, when are you bringing your girlfriend to meet the family? You can’t keep putting it off. I thought you promised Babu you’d have ten children with her.”
“Ten!” Dante gaped, moving to help Tani rinse grapes and olives in the sink. “Tom King, won’t she run away if she hears you want ten kids?”
“She doesn’t know I want ten,” Tom said with a smirk, sipping his tea. “Babu, I’d like to bring her when you’re around, so give me a day, and I’ll make it happen.”
“I think we should have Uncle Amu here, too,” Tani said. “Let’s ask him for a good day during breakfast.”
“Okay,” Tom said, then winked. “Babu, one of your lawyers is sweet on Hera. What do you think?”
“What?” Tani glanced at Hera, who shook her head in exasperation.
“Don’t listen to him,” Hera said. “My heel broke in the courtyard when I was talking to the restoration crew. He helped me back to my office and wrapped my ankle when it felt sprained. Tom’s convinced that means he’s smitten.”
“Which one?” Tani asked, abandoning the grapes for a moment.
“Vidar Badem,” Tom said as he opened the sausage package.
“Ah.” Tani smiled and leaned against the sink counter with a satisfied nod.
“Wipe that smile off your face, Babu,” Hera said, grabbing cutlery from a drawer.
“He’s a good man,” Tani said. “Hardworking. He built his firm in an honest way. He’s loyal to his friends and kind to his colleagues. He lost his mother two years ago, but he took excellent care of her. He’s a great catch.”
“I don’t see it happening,” Hera said. “You’re all forgetting my darling Deniz.”
“How could we?” Tom asked, giving her a mock-horrified look. “Vidar would treat her right, unlike Hakan.”
Hera sighed. “Dante, stop them.”
Dante chuckled and leaned over to kiss Tani’s right cheek. “Baby, you can’t decide for Vidar and Hera. They’ll have to meet more often and choose for themselves.”
“See? Even Dante agrees,” Tom said with satisfaction.
“I’m not listening,” Hera laughed, placing cutlery around the table. “This mom is focusing on raising her daughter for now. Romance can wait.”
“I support you, Hera,” Dante said, smiling when Tani looked at him with a raised brow. “Hera’s your ward. I’ll help you beat up this guy if he does her wrong. I’m just trying to save him early.”
Tani chuckled. “Maybe I should bring you along to deal with Hakan.” He turned back to rinse olives while Dante finished with the grapes. “Hera, I support all your choices. It’s also okay to try finding love again. You deserve it.”
“Okay,” Hera said softly.
A comfortable quiet settled until Deniz’s excited squeal rang from the corridor. They all turned to see Sunu entering with Deniz in his arms and Amu walking in behind them.
“Good morning,” Deniz said in a singsong voice.
“Morning,” everyone replied.
“I can take her,” Hera said, hurrying to Sunu’s side.
“Don’t worry. I don’t mind,” Sunu said with a gentle smile. He looked especially relaxed, dressed in a white tunic shirt and comfortable trousers, his feet in sandals. Deniz was still in her pink Barbie pajamas and socks, her left arm hooked over Sunu’s shoulder as she played with the medallion on his chest.
Hera glanced at Tani for guidance, and Tani gave her an encouraging nod.
“We’re doing fine together,” Sunu continued. “Deniz was just telling me she loves riding horses and swinging as high as possible on the playground. Right, Deniz?”
“Very high,” Deniz said seriously. “I have a secret for you.” She leaned in to whisper in his ear. “Uncle Cale makes sure I don’t fall. He’s very careful.”
“What a marvel,” Sunu said, moving to sit at the dining table, where Hera pulled out a chair for him. He settled Deniz on his knee and listened attentively to all her morning secrets.
“He’s very good with children,” Amu said, catching Tani’s attention. “At the citadel, they run to him, offering him flower crowns that he wears all day.”
Tani found himself wondering if he had ever sat on Sunu’s knee. He couldn’t remember. Somehow, the memories of his time at the citadel had faded.
“Let’s have breakfast,” Amu said, snapping Tani out of his thoughts. “What can I help with?”
“Could you put the sour cherry jam into smaller bowls, and the honey too?” Hera said. “I’ll get the Turkish bagels. I picked up the ones with extra sesame seeds yesterday because Dante seems to love those.”
“Thank you, Hera,” Dante said, placing the grapes on a large platter.
“Babu, call Cale. It’s almost time to eat,” Hera said.
Tani nodded. ‘Cale,’ he called in his mind as he started scrambling eggs at the cooking range next to Tom.
Cale arrived just as the kitchen buzzed with activity. Impeccably dressed in a neat gray suit, he slipped off his jacket and laid it on the chair nearest Sunu and Deniz, then helped serve the many platters of food.
They all worked in a flurry to set the dining table with a hearty spread. Soon, everyone was seated, and tea glasses were passed down to everyone, and chocolate milk in a cup for Deniz, who sat between Sunu and Cale.
Tani settled back in his chair, watching his family enjoy a leisurely breakfast. Beyond a moment of awkwardness when Sunu first arrived, Deniz’s animated conversation swept all barriers aside. The table buzzed with talk of Dante’s digs across Europe, Tom’s research on conservation, Cale’s love of bespoke suits, Hera’s curiosity about winemaking, and Amu’s fascination with obscure crystals. Tani loved every minute, every second. His eyes shone with warmth as he looked up to find Sunu watching him.
‘Your chosen family is beautiful,’ Sunu’s voice whispered in Tani’s mind, the words soothing. ‘I’m glad I came to be here with you.’
Tani held his father’s gaze for a moment, then nodded in acknowledgment. A small part of him was happy to show off his family to his father. He had not known he needed to. To have Sunu sit among these people who Tani loved was perfect.
Tani held his father’s gaze for a moment, then nodded. A small part of him felt proud to share this family with his father. He hadn’t realized how much he wanted Sunu’s presence here until now.
Sunu lifted his tea glass in a silent toast and sipped, smiling happily. Then he turned to Deniz, who was offering him a grape on a fork, and took a playful bite with a chuckle.
“Your dad looks happy to be here,” Dante murmured into Tani’s right ear.
“Mm,” Tani said, accepting a slice of feta cheese Dante fed him. “What do you want to do today?”
“Nothing. Just be with you,” Dante said, his gaze thoughtful. “We could swing by Artri House and have another date on my favorite couch. I want to make memories with you there.”
“It’s a date,” Tani said, grinning. “We could even have dinner with your parents.”
“I’ll call Mom and tell her,” Dante said, feeding Tani a piece of sausage. “Eat more.”
“Don’t just feed me,” Tani teased, pointing to Dante’s plate. “You need to eat too.”
“Ugh, all this sweetness between at your end of the table is giving me a toothache,” Cale said, making Tani scowl at him while Dante laughed.
Tani kissed Dante’s cheek, then shot Cale a mock-serious look. “So, how are those teeth? Any cavities?”
They all burst out laughing. Tani squeezed Dante’s arm, exhilarated to be so happy.
****
Nora was busy trimming the damaged vines where Cale and Kinon had apprehended Aero. It was midmorning, and the sun was coming up fast. She adjusted the brim of her wide sisal hat and crouched to study the soil.
“It’s not as damaged as you think,” a gentle voice said, making her look up in surprise. She blinked when she saw Kinon standing a few feet away. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you. I was with Cale in the ekho realm, but he left me abruptly, so I decided to visit the mortal realm. I brought your charmed pens. I took them back from Aero. I placed them in your workroom near the grimoire. On my way out, I decided to check on the vines.”
“Oh,” Nora said, straightening up, holding her clippers tight. She tried to find the right words to respond to Kinon but found none. “Um.”
“I grow grapes too,” Kinon said, moving closer. He took the clippers from her and examined the vines she had been working on. “You’ve done a good job removing the worst damaged branches. Here, let me help encourage new shoots.”
Nora fought back her nerves and concentrated on learning from the ekho god of fire. Kinon was generous with his knowledge, patiently answering her questions about the soil and her concerns about parasites. They worked side by side for two hours, methodically tending to the rows of grapevines.
“The kara ot Aero tried to root into your soil never took,” Kinon said after a time, touching the loose earth. He sank his fingers into the soil, and Nora sensed a surge of power radiating through the roots. “The soil is very healthy, likely because Lord Tani blessed your vineyard. I’ll restore what was disturbed so it all looks the same.”
“That’s a relief,” Nora said with a soft sigh. She had chosen to handle the damage alone, giving her staff two days off. Only the vintner had stayed behind, absorbed in his duties.
“All done,” Kinon said a few minutes later. He stood to his full height, his hands perfectly clean despite plunging them into the dirt. “Fire purifies.”
“Oh,” Nora said again, and, satisfied with the state of the vines, she motioned toward Artri House. “Would you like a glass of tea?”
“Yes, please,” Kinon said.
Nora studied him a moment longer, then turned to lead the way out of the row. She glanced at him often as they walked along the path leading to the house.
“It feels like you have a lot of questions for me,” Kinon said, his tone as calm as ever. “You can ask anything.”
“Will you answer?”
“All that I can,” Kinon said. “Now that you know about Lord Tani, and after one of our own plotted against your kin, there’s nothing left to hide from you.”
“Why does Lord Cale follow Tani?” Nora asked. “The god of calamities doesn’t sound very…auspicious.”
“He isn’t, but neither is he cruel,” Kinon replied. “Cale is the Immortal Lord Sunu’s blood brother—darkness to the Immortal Lord’s light. He carries the burden of calamities. He doesn’t corrupt souls; they corrupt themselves, and he revels in what they become.”
“No matter how you explain it, it still sounds ominous,” Nora said, sighing.
Kinon chuckled. “I suppose it does. But Cale will be the one to keep Aero in check.”
“That’s some consolation,” Nora said, nodding as they approached the house. “Lord Kinon, something is weighing on me. It’s about my son, and I’m afraid to ask him directly. Will you listen?”
“I’ll do my best,” Kinon said.
“Well, Dante is my only child,” Nora began. “He’s in love with an ekho, someone who belongs to a realm beyond human limits, while my son is…well, he’s human. Even with his powers as a warlock, Dante will still age and die. What happens to Tani then? I want to support their union, but the thought of Tani being left behind haunts me. Isn’t their love doomed to end in sadness?”
Kinon took a deep breath. “You are indeed the Arturo matriarch, diving straight to the heart of matters,” he said quietly.
They walked in silence for a while before Kinon stopped and turned to face her.
“Your question is precisely why the Septum punished Tani,” Kinon said. “He insisted that the love between him and Dante would be equal, that it would endure every trial. However, their limitations are rooted in their very existence. Tani refuses to see beyond his passion, and his devotion to Dante has become both inspiring and worrying. In truth, only fate holds the answer. Perhaps Tani is destined to mourn Dante for the rest of his life, and perhaps Dante was always meant to give Tani a fleeting taste of mortal love.”
Tears filled Nora’s eyes, and she turned away. “So, who should I pity?” she whispered. “My son, who will condemn an ekho to mourn him for all eternity, or Tani, who is so blinded by love that he dares bind himself to my son, a human?”
Kinon’s eyes brimmed with tears as he listened to her grief. When she glanced at him, her tears spilled over.
“It would be a mercy to the entire Septum if we had a sure answer,” Kinon said, his voice thick with emotion. “We’ve all wondered what should be done.”
Nora wiped her tears with trembling fingers. In her mind’s eye, she pictured Tani living on, remembering his and Dante’s passionate but short-lived love, while watching over Dante’s children and grandchildren long after Dante was gone.
The thought felt unbearably cruel. Sorrow filled her heart at the fleeting existence of a human life. Compared to an ekho, well, weren’t mortals too cruel to these creatures who lived on watching them in the shadows?
Shaking her head, Nora grasped Kinon’s left arm and led him toward the house. “I suppose it’s already decided,” she said. “I could hardly believe how excited Dante sounded when he called me this morning, wanting to invite the family to dinner. He sounded so happy, and I’m so glad he feels the warmth of love. You’re Dante’s grand ancestor. I ask you to look after Tani—treat him like an Arturo in the future. Please, accompany him when Dante leaves him behind. Promise me.”
Kinon hesitated, then gave a solemn nod. “I promise.”
“Thank you,” Nora said, exhaling. “We look after our own. You know that, right?”
“I do,” Kinon said softly.
Nora nodded again. “I feel better knowing that. I made baklava yesterday. Let’s have some with tea, just until I can prepare a proper lunch. I hope you’ll like it.”
“I’m sure I will,” Kinon said, following Nora up the front steps to Artri House. The door opened for them, and Nora laughed at her home’s eagerness to welcome Kinon.
“What do you think Tani likes to eat?” she asked as she led him into the kitchen.
“We’ll have to ask Cale,” Kinon replied. When Nora shuddered at the thought, he amended, “Don’t worry, I’ll do it.”
“Thank you,” Nora said, gesturing for him to sit at the kitchen table. “It’ll take me time to accept Lord Cale. Will that offend Tani?”
“No,” Kinon said, pulling in his chair. “Cale scares most people who don’t know him.”
It was nearly half past noon.
Before they could speak further, a sharp crash echoed from the front hall, and the entire house shuddered as though seized by an earthquake.
“What now?” Nora demanded, hurrying out of the kitchen. Kinon followed close behind, and they both stopped short at the front hall in horror.
Dante stood by the table near the front door, arms flung out to hold the sizeable ornamental vase that had toppled off its perch. He had managed to grab it, but the vase had begun to crumble in his hands. Splinter-like cracks spread across its surface, and in a terrifying instant, black crystal fragments erupted from within, latching onto Dante’s right arm.
A low, resonant groan seemed to ripple through the house as the shards crept up his sleeve and sank into his flesh with alarming speed.
Dante gasped, eyes wide with pain. Tani desperately tried to wrench Dante’s hand from the collapsing vase, but the dark fragments clung to Dante’s skin, burrowing deeper.
Nora screamed when Dante staggered, his knees buckling as a violent tremor shook the house. Tani clutched at him, tears of panic on his face, one arm thrown around Dante’s shoulders in a desperate bid to keep him upright.
“Dante,” Tani sobbed, his voice trembling.
Dante’s strength gave out, and he collapsed to the floor, the vase disintegrating into glittering black dust around him. Tani followed him down, resting Dante’s head on his lap as he gripped Dante’s right arm tight, determined to stop the black crystals from doing more damage. The house rumbled in sympathy, the walls rattling as though shuddering at Dante’s agony.
Nora stood frozen for an instant before she darted to Dante’s side. Tani pushed the sleeves of Dante’s t-shirt up, ripping at the fabric to get a better look. The sight of the inky shards creeping beneath her son’s skin stole the air from her lungs. She could only call his name in a voice filled with dread while Tani fought to hold back the dark fragments spreading along Dante’s right arm. Kinon rushed over, helping Tani when Dante started shaking as hard as the house.
Nora’s heart pounded with crippling fear, terrified for her son’s life.
Sui Writes 