Page 98 of Lethal Souls

When Korah knocks the sword out of her hand again, I meet up to Willow. “Let’s take a break.”

She stares at me with glossy eyes. They bounce from me to Korah, who studies us both before nodding in agreement.

“You can’t get better at this if you’re tired, Willow. I can tell you didn’t rest while I was away.” I take her hand and press my lips to her knuckles.

That action alone pulls her out of her stubbornness as she watches my mouth graze over her skin.

“Fine,” she murmurs. “Just a quick break.”

SIXTY

WILLOW

“I have something to tell you, Caz.” Water drips down my back as he runs a cloth over it.

I’m in the bathtub, my legs drawn to my chest and my chin resting on wet knees.

I feel like a failure today. I’m not good with a sword. I can hardly swing the damn thing without my arms aching right away and my lungs hurting. But I want to fight.

I have to fight.

Five days doesn’t feel like nearly enough time.

“Go on then. Tell me.” He runs the cloth over my shoulder before carrying it down my spine.

I swirl a finger through a patch of bubbles. “Korah told me that our parents knew each other.”

He pauses.

Silence.

“That’s not possible,” he says. “Your parents were on Earth.”

“My birth mother was in Vakeeli. Her name was Xinthia and she had a partner named Tepper. Maeve mentioned him, remember? And she knew your mother, right?”

“Yes,” he says as more of a question. “They weren’t particularly close, but they knew each other.”

“Well apparently your mom and mine were in an elite group of Mythics. It’s how your mom bonded us to Cerberus and Silvera—how she protected you in the past with magic.”

Caz is completely silent now.

I lean against the tub with a sigh. “Korah is the one who took me and Warren to Earth. She said we were like her own children. She cared about us. Bonded with us.”

“When did she tell you all this?”

“A few hours ago. We were on the beach. I was still mad at her and I was about to walk away, but she told me everything. I guess she didn’t want me being angry at her anymore.”

“Hmm.” The water sloshes as he dunks the cloth into it. “It seems my mother was a woman of many secrets.”

“Maybe, but she kept them secret to protect you,” I offer. “To protect us. She knew what you were, what you’d become.”

“Then why didn’t Korah save her? If she was around, why didn’t she protect my mother?”

“She did protect her from Decius. She said she sealed her cabin to keep him away when she felt his energy. Decius found out, and I bet that’s why he told your father about you—to try to rip the two of you apart. To leave you vulnerable.”

“She suffered too much for me to accept that answer.” He yanks his hand away, and when I look up, I see him pacing the side of the tub. “Like always, The Regals were bloody useless,” he grumbles. “Korah should’ve stayed with my mother. Maybe she’d still be alive.”

“Look, I understand you want to pin the blame on The Regals, but they had no control of your mom’s fate. Hey. Look at me.” I reach out far enough to catch the fabric of his pants, and he stops pacing.