Page 53 of Obsidian and Frost

“I’m… I’m fine. Do not concern yourself with it.”

“Is it about her?”

I tensed. “Her?”

“This woman?”

He pulled something from his pants pocket and held it out to me.

I started when I saw it was a photo of Velra—one I’d obtained from her Crossborn file at the Guardian Movement.

Myphoto of her.

I snatched it from him. “You went into my nightstand?”

“I needed scissors. You keep them in there.” He winced. “After that first couple of times when I didn’t use them well to make those paper chains for that holiday Ariana told me about. When I was searching for them now that I’m better at using them, I saw this. This photo ofher.I remembered her from the Severance that day. She saved you when you couldn’t get out of the Celestial Plane.”

“Yes, that’s her,” I said, running my thumb over her hair on the picture. “Velra Nox.”

“She is special to you.”

I sighed and eased down my tee a little to reveal the Soul Brand that he’d seen before. He knew well what it meant. Hemight be young in some areas, but he was imbued with heavy Celestial knowledge. “She is how this came about.”

His eyes widened. “She is the one you tethered?”

“Yes.”

“She is very special then.”

“No.”

“No? I don’t understand. You are Soul Branded.”

“That is exactly why she can’t be special to me, why I can’t treat her as such, and why I cannot allow her to view me that way either.”

He stared again. “You think the Brand could violate her free will if you entertain it?”

“I do.”

“That’s not the case. She is still free to act as she wishes. The Brand does not impact what somebody feels. If you are feeling for her, it’s real. Organic. It’s not a result of this tethering.”

“I can’t be certain. There isn’t enough known about it.”

“Not to you. The True Celestials compartmentalized information. Only those at the top of the hierarchy of the Celestial Plane were privy to such things, especially things that were frowned upon like tethering somebody of the mortal realm to a True Celestial. And, as in the case with this particular Brand, given how prominent it is, violating the natural order and actually pulling her from death itself.” He smiled. “You are aware that I have access to the knowledge of many True Celestials via my makeup. A couple were at the top of the hierarchy, as such I am aware of much about these Soul Brands. So, I am certain that neither her choices nor yours are influenced by this Brand.”

It was my turn to stare as I fought to absorb his revelations.

“We have been living together for months. You know of my extensive knowledge base in matters such as these… why did you not bring this to my attention sooner? Why let thismisinformation you held stand and keep you from this woman you clearly care for?”

That was a complicated question.

So very complicated.

“It’s not just a free will violation that keeps me at a distance to her. She has suffered through a great deal. I don’t want myadjustmentto life as a Fallen to be a burden upon her when she should be thriving and happy, focused on building a life for herself.”

“If she is worth caring for, why would she even see your issue as a burden?”

“I…” I shoved a hand through my hair. “Did you… you ate with Ariana and her loves, yes?”