Page 115 of Blackheart

“It’s… difficult to bond with one. A few too many mishaps have people—including King Xavian Steele, weary of bothering with them. That’s why they’re left alone in Moonhill.”

Moons of Glory, I wanted so badly to visit Moonhill.

“Alright, enough war talk. More drinking. And Elora, it's your turn.” Beck waved his hands at the cards.

“But I want to learn more about the bladebreathers.”

Amzee grinned. “I’ll show them to you. We can go up there soon.”

A few rounds of drinks later, I got the hang of the game. Every time I thought about Riven, I drank more.

So much so, I thought I was hallucinating when he and a few other members of the Brotherhood walked through the door. It was a sobering sight as they sauntered right up to the bar. He hadn’t noticed me in the corner, watching—wishing we were splitting a bottle of wine in a snowed-in tavern and laughing about terrible bard music.

Beck glanced at me skeptically before subtly turning around. “Ah,” he said as he looked back at his cards.

Amzee scanned the room. “What?”

“Elora is in the dumps about that man at the bar. The tall one.”

“Beck!” I gasped.

He placed a card on the table and shrugged. “Am I wrong?”

“All of this brooding over aman?” Amzee’s eyebrows nearly touched her hairline as she dramatically gagged and clutched her chest.

It was horribly embarrassing. I was prepared to defend myself when my head began to spin, my mind taking me elsewhere.

Training grounds. Moonlight and torches guided my motions. I was in another body—-Xavian’s, sword in hand. I felt so angry. I wanted to break something, just to burn away some of the hurt that tore at my soul.

Just as fast as it took me, I came back—eyes flinging open in the tavern.

“What the hell was that?” Beck gawked.

I shook my head, uncomfortable in my own skin. “This weird bond thing I have with my twin, I think.” Did they even know Xavian was my brother?

“What?” they asked in unison.

I don’t know why I tried to explain it. They would not understand.Ididn’t even understand.

It was as if Xavian’s emotions were merging with mine. As if everything was heightened. I wasn’t upset—I was devastated. I wasn’t missing Riven, I waslongingfor him. I’d never felt like this before.

“Wait, isn’t that your guy?” Amzee blurted, nodding at a group of women by the bar crowding around Riven. Their voices were inaudible, but he stood shaking his head as one of them stroked his arm.

I couldn’t stop staring. I couldn’t control my rising rage as another woman smiled and laughed with her mouth wide open, nose scrunching towards Riven.

My palms darkened, veins beginning to bulge.

I had controlled myself in the Waywards, and I could control myself here.

I compelled myself to stay put and watch everything I wanted in a person be found by another.

The brunette fawned over him, her friends giggling and blushing too. Riven shook his head again, shooting back a full glass of dark liquor.

Riven did not drink, yet there he was.

“Life is too short to sit in a dark corner,” Beck said, voice low and eyes stern.

He knew what it was like to lose someone.