Page 186 of A Vow of Embers

Taking that as her answer, he said, “Zalira, I love you.”

A strange sound echoed off the walls. It was Zalira crying out. Indecision gripped me and I didn’t know whether I should stay put or go out and try to do something.

“By the goddess,” she cried. “What is that? I feel you! As if part of you exists inside me now!”

Stephanos had spoken the words and created that invisible thread tying his soul to Zalira’s. It couldn’t be undone, not even in death.

And if she said it to him, the bond would become even stronger.

“I won’t say that I’m sorry,” he said. “I love you. I will never give those words to another. They belong only to you.”

It was so quiet. Was she crying?

“Tell me you don’t love me,” he pleaded. “Tell me that and I’ll stay away from you.”

“I cannot say the words. I shouldn’t have let you. What are we going to do? You have to take it back.”

“You know that I can’t. Even if I could, I wouldn’t. I mean it with every part of my being. I will wait for you. As long as it takes. I will love you every minute of every day until my dying breath. And if you don’t see a way to be with me in this life, I will love you in the next. I will always be here for you, whatever you need. You are the other half of my heart, Zalira.”

It was the most romantic and heartbreaking thing I had ever heard. She was definitely crying now. I wanted to go to her but didn’t want to intrude any more than I already had on this extremely private moment.

“Go,” she wept. “I need you to leave.”

I didn’t know if he had left or not, but the moment I heard her quietly call my name, I rushed out to her. She was crouched on the floor, sobbing desperately. I wrapped my arms around her.

“We have to leave,” she said, wiping at her tears. “We can’t be found here.”

“Let’s go to your room,” I said. I helped her to stand. Her legs wobbled but she quickly regained control of herself and we headed toward the stairs. I kept my arm around her, wishing that I could do more.

I didn’t know what to say. What I’d just heard had been world-shattering. I couldn’t imagine how much pain Zalira was in. She had loved him for so long. And I knew it was hard enough for her to be here at the palace with him. How much more difficult would it be now?

“You should go back to the temple,” I said as we opened the door to her room.

“My place is here with all of you.” She sank onto her bed and put her hand over her eyes.

“I don’t want you to be hurting this way.” Distance might help.

She only shook her head. “There is a vial with a dark green liquid. Can you bring it to me?”

It was on Io’s table and I grabbed it. “This one?”

She removed her arm and said, “Yes.” Then she took it from me.

“What is it?”

“A sleeping draught. I need to block out the world tonight and sleep. Better this than too much wine.”

Perhaps it was a good idea for her to rest. We could talk about this when she was ready. “I’ll be in my room if you need me.”

“You should go back to the party.”

“No. I’m going to stay up here with you.”

“That’s silly, Lia. I’ll be sleeping.”

“Fine,” I said to appease her. But I would stay close by just in case. I helped her out of her party dress and got her into her sleeping clothes. When she had climbed into her bed and gotten under the blankets, she took the draught. In a few seconds she had fallen asleep.

I took the vial from her and put it on Io’s table. I considered going and getting the rest of my adelphia to tell them what had happened, but this was Zalira’s story and she would share it when she was ready.