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It didn’t take as long as he’d thought it would before Cass said, “I want to read it.”

“All right,” Cyrus answered, reaching for the envelope he’d set on the side table. “Do you want me to go or—”

“I never want you to go,” Cass murmured, taking the envelope from him and breaking the wax seal. To his credit, his fingers only shook a little as he unfolded the paper inside, and Cyrus read over his shoulder.

Cassius—

I do not know if you will ever read these words. I may have given you life, but I do not fault you for not bestowing me the honor of calling me ‘mother.’ I imagine my actions this day have only increased that disdain.

There is a Rite among the Witches. It is not known outside our bloodline. We are secretive and untrustworthy by nature. When a Witch has her first bleed, she is sent to see the Oracle in her land. The Oracles have always had the purest relationship with Fate, which is why she gifts them glimpses of what could be. But those glimpses are just that. What could be. The Oracle told me I would live to see the world burn and power reborn, and that I would have a hand in it all.

It is also a Rite to go see the Oracle when a Witch learns she is carrying a child. I learned that day that the child I carried had the potential to save the world or bring it to ruin, but if it stayed among our own, the child would only know death.

When you were born, Eliné took you. I went to the Oracle within hours of bringing you into the world. You were gone, and my soul was empty. That is when she told me that one day one would come who would know you. On that day, you could return. I could see you again, but the time would be brief.

Tempting Fate is often a slippery slope. We hear one thing and assume, painting a picture with our limited knowledge. So many have lost hours, days, years trying to figure out Fate, but in the end, her secrets are never revealed. The smallest action can cause the largest shift, and everything changes. The world changes. Fate changes.

The choice to save you was easy. The choice to leave you behind was agony. The only way I survived was by letting Eliné hide you, by having no knowledge of where you called home. If I had known where you were, I would have come for you. I came so close so many nights. I could have done it. I could have found an enchantment to find you, so I forced Arantxa to charm my spell book. I could not retrieve it until the day of my Fading. To pass it on to you.

You cannot rule the Witch Kingdoms. Only a female can do so. The title will pass to my niece and your cousin. It is for the best. Our ways are cruel and unforgivable. Everything you are not. Although perhaps a young queen and her sisters will free more than just one kingdom.

I have seen the world set on fire. I have seen power reborn. And you, my son? You have saved the world. If I had not let you go, you would have never met Scarlett at such a young age to form the bond you have. You saved her, Cassius. Not her mother. Not her brother. Not her twin flame. She would not have survived these years if you had not been there. You are everything I am not, and because of that, you saved the world. Because if I could have, I would have come for you. I would have tempted Fate and let the world fall to ruin.

I can Fade knowing you have found love and family. That you know more than heartache and abandonment. Live well, Cassius.

But know that I would have come for you.

She did not sign it, and when Cass was ready, they climbed into bed.

Cyrus wrapped an arm around his waist, tugging him back against his chest, and whispered, “You break, and we clean it up together, Cass.”

Cyrus held him close all through the night.

* * *

When he woke the next morning, Cassius was still sleeping, and Scarlett was there, curled against Cassius’s chest. She wasn’t sleeping, though. Her eyes were red-rimmed and swollen, but there was a hardness there. A glint that told him she needed to work out some aggression. Or stab something.

With his arm still curled around Cassius’s waist from behind, he lifted his head looking for Sorin. He wasn’t there, but the movement stirred Cassius awake.

“Seastar?” he murmured, bringing a hand up to rub at his face.

“I just…needed to be with you,” she whispered. “I’m sorry, Cassius.”

“Shh,” Cass soothed, pulling her into his chest.

“I am supposed to be comforting you,” she cried softly.

“We comfort each other, Scarlett. Nothing has changed.”

Cyrus pressed a quick kiss into Cass’s neck before he eased from the bed and headed to his bathing room. When he reemerged, the two were murmuring softly to each other. Cassius wiped at her tears before she hugged him tightly once more, and Cyrus realized the High Witch was right. Cassius had saved her.

But she had saved him too.

“You two want some breakfast?” he asked, leaning against the doorjamb and crossing his arms.

Scarlett pushed to a sitting position, settling her silver gaze on him. “Actually, there is breakfast waiting. Ashtine and Briar are here.” She glanced down at Cassius. “We need to go see the Sorceress. If you’re not up for going—”

“I’m going,” Cass said, throwing back the blankets. Cyrus moved out of the way as Cass went into the bathing room, shutting the door behind him.