The freezing rain returns during our trek, forcing us into a less-than-ideal shelter.

The dark cave is slick with crackling ice, and the walls hum eerily with the frosted wind. I swear I hear something deeper in the cave bellowing quietly, threatening us from afar.

We're miles away from the fire now, but smoke still clings to my nose, and my lungs feel like dried husks, forced to squeeze out air that turns to mist when I speak.

"Maddox, we can't sleep here. What if this is where the monsters come from?"

He nods to the half-moon shape of the cave opening. "Well, we don't have to sleep but going out there isn't exactly ideal right now."

I follow his gaze with a frown.

Sleet and snow dance horizontally past the cave entrance, taunting us. Moonlight reflects off the distant fog, making it impossible to see anything past the gloomy haze.

"I hate this," I mutter.

The soft grumbling from before turns into an angry, violent screech that echoes off the cave walls and rattles my skull.

Silence consumes us before something unknown begins to scutter through the cave.

Startled, I throw my hand toward Maddox, grabbing the knee pulled up to his chest. His hand folds over mine and he moves closer to me.

"It's alright," he says gently, "They won't attack when we're touching, remember?"

The cave stills again but my heart is in my ears. "We don't know that for sure."

"Well, we also have this," he expresses optimistically, holding up the lantern we found floating amongst the trees in the forest, much like the ones we'd seen in the castle prior. "They don't seem too fond of light."

The lantern's warm glow reflects and bobs shyly among the cave walls, offering light and fleeting comfort.

Doubt still prods at me. "But what if this isn't the same monster from before? The harpies didn't care that we were together," I argue with a whisper.

"Those harpies wanted Juniper," Maddox murmurs. "The noises we keep hearing sound just like the monster from the castle, and for some reason, it wants you, but we know how to deal with it."

"But what if—"

"Do you always worry so much?" he interjects. "Because it's not helping anything, you know?"

I bite my cheek. Worrying is a fool's game, I know this, but my concerns stem more so from the need to strategize. Sitting here when Nova is out in this storm makes me feel useless.

I peek up at him, offended when I notice amusement. 

"Sorry for not wanting to die," I snap.

He tries to resist the urge to grin but fails. "Biting my tongue quite hard right now, Love."

I roll my eyes, immediately knowing what he's thinking. "I told you I don't want to die. The Moon Gathering is an honorable sacrifice. Dying in this cave would just be stupid and annoying."

"Dying in a cave would annoy you?" he asks with a snort. "You're worried about the annoyance of it?" 

He chuckles to himself, shaking his head.

Irritated, I jerk my hand away from his and let it drop to the frozen bedrock, but he immediately plants it back on mine protectively. When I look at him, a determined glint taunts me from his eye, daring me to push him away and try my luck with the monsters.

I purse my lips, deciding to let it go and focus on more important matters, but his triumphant smirk doesn't go unnoticed.

"Well," I start, narrowing my eyes. "What are we going to do about Dolion?" His name sounds like a slur on my lips.

Maddox's expression sobers. "Honestly, with your brother in the state he's in and your missing sword being buried in snow, I'd say Dolion's the least of our worries."

"I hope so," I mutter.

His brow furrows and his lips curve down. 

"Speaking of which, were you actually going to kill Dolion? By the well?" he asks in a hushed voice.

Anger surges through me again when I recount the deceitful Moonborn's threats.

"He tried to kill me first," I say, clenching my fists. "He pretended he was Orion, mimicking his voice with magic, then threatened my family. I played it off and told him I'd take him to you so he wouldn't kill me."

Maddox's eyes widen. "What?" he exhales.

"I wasn't going to give you away, no matter how mad we were at each other," I say quickly, waving him off. "But I had to get out of those woods and when I saw the well..."

Now that I think about it, why was I being so impulsive? 

"I didn't think you were going to sell me out, Love," Maddox reassures me. "Dolion's behavior is a bit jarring is all. He's always been one to play the long game."

I barely register his words, too caught up in my own thoughts.

I remember how I felt, how intense my emotions were—fear, guilt, resentment... I was going to kill Dolion. If the fall didn't do it, I was prepared to leave him in that well to rot.

I swallow roughly, then shrug.

"To answer your question, yes, I was going to kill him." 

I feel Maddox stiffen beside me. 

"I'm glad I didn't do it, but he's a problem, Maddox. He's going to get people killed, unintentionally or otherwise."

He sighs. "Callie." My name still sounds like it leaves a sour taste in his mouth. "Have you ever even killed someone?"

The hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and I want to counter with, 'Have you?' But I know I'm not ready to spring into that conversation just yet, or at all. 

I like this Maddox, the one that I know, and I don't want to taint that with other people's perceptions. That, and I still need him if we're going to get out of this dimension in one piece.

"No," I say truthfully. "Like I said, I'm glad I didn't do it. As awful as Dolion has been, I don't think I would have felt good about it at all."

"Good." He visibly relaxes. "Trust me, you don't want to know what it feels like."

My heart leaps into my throat. "What?"

My body shudders and the hand connected to his numbs, then buzzes with anticipation.

He just confessed to killing someone. Was it just his brother's lover or multiple people? 

Will I be next?

I grit my teeth, annoyed with myself. I can't keep thinking like this.

I know I should just ask Maddox outright about Leo, but it's safer to stick with my original plan: Learn healing magic from Maddox so that I can save Orion. 

And I won't be able to do that if I create a divide between us before I learn the spell.

My eyes widen a fraction. The dagger and compass in my pocket suddenly feel heavy, yet small, reminding me that something is missing beside them.

I left the book Astrid gave me in Maddox's home, next to the fireplace. The whole house could be up in flames right now because of all the dragon fire that was spit out around the village.

I make a mental note to mention this to Maddox later when we venture back out into the cold.

"It's nearly inevitable in our world, especially out in the open," Maddox says, pulling me from my silent spiral. "If you're not the one dying, then you have to defend yourself, at least that's how it was for me."

I take a deep breath and exhale slowly, closing my eyes. So, it was self-defense. That makes sense.

"I'm sure you did what you had to do to keep yourself safe," I say impassively.

"Right," he mutters absently, slicking back a tangle of blonde curls from his forehead.

My shoulders feel heavy as if they might cave right into my chest and shatter my bones.

Imagining Maddox, the child from the memory, wandering the world alone and being hunted and manipulated by malicious strangers is a shattering vision. No one was there to protect him if it ever came down to it. He only had himself.

"So, back to Dolion," I say, eager to change the topic, "We just ignore him?"

Maddox shrugs. "If he isn't in our way, I don't see a point in bothering with him until we've found the sword."

My stomach twists, an unwelcome possibility flashing through my mind. I don't even want to entertain the thought, but...

"What's wrong?" he asks, turning to me.

"What if Dolion finds the sword before us? Or already has?" I ask breathily, watching my words fade into cold vapor.

Maddox scoffs. "He can't use it. He's not a Starborn."

My eyes shut tightly and I have to take a few short breaths.

"No, but he can use it as leverage. He knows I need it, and he's already threatened Orion."

Maddox's hand tightens around mine. "If that's the case, we'll deal with him then, but nobody's going to hurt your brother, Love." His eyes harden, making my heart tremble. "Not if I have anything to say about it."

Unexpectedly, his words comfort me. I feel my shoulders relax but briefly wonder if I'm being too trusting.

No. Stop, I scold myself.

No more pushing him or myself away. I don't want to be chained to such exhausting thinking patterns any more than I have to.

Once I master healing magic, and have nothing to lose, then I'll throw caution to the wind and ask Maddox about Leo.

And hopefully, Dolion was lying and it'll be something Maddox and I can just laugh off together. Until then, I want to at least try to be more open, for both our sakes.

"Hey, Maddox?"

He turns to me, pensive.

"This isn't your problem or anything, but if we're going to stick together, I wanted to try to be more honest, I guess," I offer, sounding awkward.

"Okay?" he encourages.

Biting my lip, I admit, "My friend tried to protect me from Dolion with her magic, so she's over here too. I've been worried about her, and I'm going to look for her when the storm clears up."

He nods, determined. "Okay, we'll find her, then the sword," he agrees, making me blink.

"I said it's not your problem," I say quickly, "I don't expect you to—"

"We'll find her, then the sword," he repeats, cutting me off. "We're sticking together, like you said, aren't we?" he asks, cocking his head to the side.

Relief floods through me, but my fingers twitch beneath his.

I shake my head. "But wouldn't it save time if you looked for the sword while I looked for Nova?" I tremble from an abrupt breeze, stuttering, "N-Nova is her name—my f-friend."

Disagreement sparks in his amber eyes, and he glances past me, stealing a peek into the dark abyss that has swallowed up the decrepit creatures lurking in the belly of the cave before turning back to me with finality.

"We're not separating." His words aren't a request.

I don't argue with him. If I have to separate from him for Nova's sake, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. For now, we'll just have to play it by ear when the time comes.

"We'll figure everything out when the storm dies down," I suggest. 

My eyes drift beyond him, watching winter howl past the narrow cave.

Looks like that might be a while.

"In the meantime, are you going to tell me how you saved that dragon back there? Or we could talk about the other dragon who gave you those scars on your back," I propose, blinking expectantly at him.

The corners of his lips turn down. "Krymmeni magii. That's how I saved the dragon."

"Hidden magic? The same technique you've been trying to teach me for healing?" I question, raising a brow at him. "But cleansing dark magic isn't like healing a wound, is it?"

He nods, averting his eyes. "Yes, the process is different, but you still need to use hidden magic to heal or cleanse. Same with looking into memories."

My breath catches and a glimmer of hope pulses in my heart.

If this is true, if I can master krymmeni magii, that means I can heal Orion and cleanse my mother's curse.

The memory of my mother, before the dark magic dug its claws so deeply into her, is a fuzzy one but impossible to forget. 

She was happy, kind, and loving. She cherished and protected all of her children. 

She made me smile effortlessly, and she wouldn't hurt a fly, but she would happily pluck flowers for my hair, weaving the stems together until they formed crowns. Then, we'd have tea, draw and paint fantasies on paper, read stories, and dance together in our flower crowns until the stars would poke holes in the sky.

She was nothing like the woman who's haunted my nights for as long as I can remember.

If I could bring my real mother back, even if only for a moment, I would do it. Even if we only reconnect briefly before I willingly walk to my death, I would do it.

I will do it.

I glower at the relentless snowstorm dusting past the cave, knowing it is only the first obstacle of many preventing me from getting to her, to Nova... Orion.

If only time was on my side. But it feels as if the Autolycus Cage is terrorizing me in more ways than one. It's like this dimension has formed its own tiny universe that is hellbent on keeping the odds stacked against me.

"Orion wasn't hexed with dark magic though, was he?" Maddox asks slowly.

I inhale when I realize how intensely Maddox is looking at me. His proximity feels closer than it was before and his eyes are magnetic, studying me with persistence. 

It feels as if I'm the O'Helio journal and he is trying to read me from the outside in—page by page, word by word—his magic burning from behind his eyes and into mine, demanding something unspoken from me.

"Well?" Maddox presses.

I shake my head, answering him silently, and my fingers shake.

"Who else are you trying to save, then?" he coaxes, leaning closer to me.

I brush my hair from my face. "No one. It's just useful to know in case I ever need to."

"Hmm."

I ignore the doubt in his tone and shrug. 

"So, what about the scars on your body? Why did a dragon attack you?" I inquire, keeping my eyes fixed on the storm.

"I already told you, I'm not budging on this one, Love." His words blend into a sigh of exasperation.

I sit back and stare at the warm lamplight pulsing along the cave walls, letting my shoulders sag.

I had already tried to pry for more information on our hike up here, but Maddox remained lockjawed and stubborn.

I was hoping he'd open up now that we're somewhat safe, but for some reason, he doesn't want to talk about dragons or his mysterious burns, which makes me only want to know more.

A wintry blast bursts into the cave again, making me shiver at the cold bite. My teeth chatter uncontrollably. 

Maddox moves closer to me, pressing himself against my side and bringing our hands to rest on his knee.

My cheeks flush despite the winter air, and I want to move away, but our combined body heat feels too good. With how swiftly the temperatures are plummeting, this may be the only thing that keeps us from freezing to death. 

I stay practical, despite my unreasonable abashment, and press my arm against his to effectively trap our heat together. I feel him briefly tremble, then relax, and I silently curse myself for enjoying not just the warmth but the way his strong arm feels against me. 

"W-Why?" I ask shakily, my body still recovering from the increased chill.

He remains quiet for a long moment. Several moments.

I'm about to give up any hope of discovering the truth just as he finally says, "I told you there are certain things I can't share with you... But I'd be willing to bend a little if you will."

"What do you mean?" I ask flatly.

I know what he means.

He sets the lantern in front of us with a soft clink. "I'll tell you about the scar if you tell me why you're interested in cleansing dark magic."

I keep my eyes trained on the ecstatic little flame encased in glass, pretending it is the most fascinating thing in the cave, but I feel his gaze on me, making my pulse quicken.

I force a sigh, feigning indifference. "I already told you, I was just curious—"

"Stop trying to insult my intelligence, Love."

"It's Callie," I counter defensively, turning my head up at him.

He cocks his head slightly. 

"Callie." His tone is curt, but his eyes stay soft.

We stare wordlessly, stubbornly, and a little too close, at each other for a moment.

Would it truly be so bad if I told him about my mother? He doesn't have to know that we're Van Blakes, but strangely, I don't think that's what's making me antsy. It's more so... I've never talked about my mother's sickness to anyone, not really.

Back home, I keep to the cottage, avoiding Mom entirely. And if she ever comes up in conversation, it is short-lived, at least for me. 

My siblings bonded differently than I did with our mother, so they don't ask me to talk about her, and I don't want them to.

I pretend she's a ghost, smiling numbly when my siblings share their fond memories of her. It's always been easier this way, to not speak of her when I can help it, but Maddox let me dive right into his darkest memories.

So, why is it so hard for me to do the same? How does he open his heart so effortlessly?

"You first," I grit through clenched teeth.

He gives me a doubtful look. "That's not how this works."

"I asked you first, Maddox," I object, narrowing my eyes.

He lets out an exhale mixed with a low hum as he leans forward, staring into the lantern.

"You promise you'll answer my question after I answer yours?" he questions warily.

I nod tightly, my heart drumming in my ears again.

He taps his fingernail against the glass on the lantern, cocking a brow.

"Tap the glass twice to promise. You can't break your word."

I roll my eyes, feeling my lips twitch into a brief smile. "That's silly. Since when do lanterns seal promises?"

He shrugs. "Since now."

"Says who?" I laugh.

"Says I," he says with a wink, tapping the glass expectantly. "Do you want to know about the scar, or not?"

I lean forward, forcing myself to ignore the way our bodies brush against each other and flick the nail of my index finger against the glass twice, feeling heat radiate through my nailbed.

The two solid clinks echo throughout the cave and the flame in the lantern waves excitedly at me.

"Happy?" I ask with another eye roll, feeling like a child.

He lets out a bark of laughter. "Sure am."

I cross my arms expectantly, releasing his hand but keeping my arm against his in case any monsters decide to venture to the front of the cave.

He leans back against the cave wall, looking up at the dark, stone ceiling before murmuring, "They say dragon fire is the hottest, most punishing form of fire—more so than the flames of any hell." 

He takes a slow breath, pondering to himself before speaking again. 

Something in his expression drops suddenly, making me think his laughter from only moments ago must've been an illusion.

"When healing someone with magic, the way I've done for you, you can only heal what you understand," he continues.

My curiosity caresses his words like poison, drinking them in and yearning for more.

"For example: If someone were to cut their finger, but I've never felt a blade cut into my own skin, I wouldn't be able to heal that person."

I blink at him when he tilts his head down to look at me.

"Okay..." I press softly.

He clears his throat. "In that regard, I read that surviving dragon fire can greatly amplify healing magic, so I did a lot of researching and digging until I finally found a dragon."

"You wanted to heal a burn so you got yourself burned by a dragon?" I ask incredulously.

His eyes close. "Not just any burn, Callie."

My heart drops. "Your mom... But she was already...."

"Dead?" he says coldly, reopening his now empty eyes.

"You wanted to bring her back," I mumble, my shoulders feeling heavy.

He merely nods in response and something in my chest crumbles.

If dragon fire is as powerful as it seems, it makes sense to theorize it would offer what he needs to revive someone who died in a fire... A fire that Maddox still refuses to disclose who started it.

Perhaps it was a dragon and he thought I wouldn't believe him before today.

Or it could be Cyrus, as I first suspected, or perhaps it was Cyrus's father, and Maddox is protecting his brother by keeping that truth to himself.

Wind creeps into the cave again, making us both shiver. 

I grab Maddox's arm and lean into it for warmth, even if only a small amount. 

It feels so unnatural for me to be so close to someone like this, but my body is desperate for heat and Maddox's must be too because he doesn't move away from my touch.

It helps a little but the half of my body not pressed into Maddox is unpleasantly chilled.

"I'm sorry, Maddox," I say with a tremor.

He shrugs, jostling me with the movement. "It was a long time ago."

"Well, was there any good that came out of it? You couldn't bring her back, but did your healing magic improve at all?"

He gives me a tight smile. "Why do you think I still have the scar?"

I frown. "You just said you can heal what you know. With that logic, you should've been able to heal the burn from the dragon."

"You would think," he says dryly. "It doesn't help that it's mostly on my back. Hard to really give it a good effort."

The image of his scar, staining most of his back and curving slightly around to his front, pops into my head and sparks something in my chest.

I wish I had that damn book with me right now. Why did I leave it by the fireplace?

Maddox pauses, holding his breath briefly. "Well to be fair, I suppose I did get a few enhancements out of the ordeal, just not any I was searching for," he prattles absentmindedly.

"I could try," I offer thoughtlessly, his scar still painted in my mind. "W-When I figure out the whole hidden magic thing, of course."

He smiles weakly. "I appreciate the thought, but I'd rather you not get burned by a dragon just to heal a scar for me."

I loosen my grip on his arm. "Oh, right. I didn't think about that."

He chuckles. "You know, you're surprisingly sweet when you're not pretending to hate me."

I pinch his arm, making him shift and release another laugh.

"Shut up," I mutter.

My tone is bitter, but there is a part of me that is elated to see him smile. I don't like it when he's sad.

He locks our arms and curls his hand around mine to keep me from pinching him again, still laughing. The sound reverberates against me, sending a warm shiver down my spine.

"Speaking of which, would you mind repeating that part of your speech earlier about you caring about me but wishing you didn't?" he requests, grinning mischievously. "I'd like to solidify it in my memory just in case you start denying it again."

I try to kick his leg but fail. "I'm going out into that blizzard. There's no way I'm staying in this cave with you all night."

His grin widens, making my chilled face heat up. 

"Is that so?" he teases. "Well, I'm sure the monsters will keep you warm out there, in that case."

"Let go!" I yell.

I pause, surprised by my outburst and how flustered and flighty I am. I don't act like this. I don't let people get under my skin, and I don't blush this much.

I need to get a hold of myself.

It's as if he hears my thoughts and challenges them with the wittiest thing he can think of when he says, "You know, I can't think of anything more stupid or annoying than dying in a blizzard... Except maybe dying in a cave," he gibes.

"You are so insufferable sometimes," I bite back. "I won't need to deny it if you actually make me hate you!"

I try to push away from him, but he keeps my arm looped around his. His laugh makes something flitter in my stomach and my face reddens even more.

Without warning, a loud, monstrous shriek makes my ears ring and my heart thunder through my chest. 

My embarrassment and pride instantly get tossed aside when I cling to Maddox, closing my eyes against his shoulder.

Something shuffles deep within the rock walls, but it sounds like whatever it is is scurrying deeper into the cave and away from us, which is a relief.

"Well, that was rude," Maddox scoffs in his polished accent.

I lift my head and pull away so that I can look up at him to frown. 

"I think we're the rude ones," I whisper sharply. "Stop trying to rile me up."

His upside-down smile flashes at me. "Sure, Love." He runs his fingers along his stubbled chin, studying me. "It's your turn to talk anyway."

I straighten my posture. "I wasn't done asking questions about the scar."

He tisks. "We made a deal. A question for a question."

"But..." No good excuse comes to mind.

He taps the lantern expectantly, watching me.

If I tell Maddox I'm trying to save my mother, he will likely sympathize more than most, but I don't know if I want that. I don't want him to see me upset, and I don't want him to pity me.

To suppress my nerves, I push my hand into my pocket and cling to Atlas's compass like a lifeline. I loop the chain around my index finger, then my thumb, releasing and retwisting as I build my courage.

"Well," I start, eyeing him cautiously. "My mom was cursed with dark magic, and I want to save her. Simple as that."

He blinks at me, eyes widening slightly. "Cursed how?" he asks.

"I don't know if it was a specific spell, but her sister hexed her years ago," I explain, keeping my eyes downcast. "At first, Mom just felt faint from time to time, but as the years went on and she bore children, she grew weaker and weaker."

He shifts, leaning forward to gauge my expression. I turn my head away, his advancement making me feel small.

"Uh, yeah, so now she's pretty much bedridden," I piffle quietly, still fiddling with the compass in my coat. "She was unconscious the last time I saw her, and my father said she doesn't have long, so she might not even be..."

I can't finish the thought out loud.

He clasps his hand over my lower arm, and I turn to him thoughtlessly. 

His earlier amusement has completely vanished, taking me off guard. His gaze is a solemn one, but pain hides behind his amber eyes.

"Is that why you're so eager to sacrifice yourself?" he predicts, eyes intense. "You think that completing the Moon Gathering will save your mother."

Dammit. He connects the dots quickly when he wants to.

My eyebrows raise. "Well, my mind has already been made up for years. The Moon Gathering was always going to happen regardless, but if it'll also save my mom, then why wouldn't I sacrifice myself for her?"

He frowns deeply for a moment before turning away from me completely.

After a long pause, he turns to look at me again, crestfallen.

"Cleansing dark magic is more complicated than regular healing, which you haven't even mastered yet either." His words extinguish my flickers of hope. "But to be frank, if she's been hexed for years, you wouldn't be able to save her anyway."

"No!" I blurt out defensively, childishly. "You don't know that! I mean... Is it me? Like, could you do it if I can't... hypothetically?"

What I meant to phrase as a simple curiosity sounds like a frantic plea. I sound like I'm begging, and I hardly know Maddox enough to ask such a favor.

Pain flickers across his face. "I... I don't know, honestly."

His answer stabs me in the heart and twists. 

I release the compass in my pocket, and the only solace I'm offered is the thumb Maddox rubs against the back of my hand, as if desperate to soothe a wound he can't heal.

"There are so many different curses and dark magic can vary in potency. I just don't want to give you false hope." His voice is gentle, but there's something uneven about it. 

I don't know what to say, but to be fair, the hope I had was fleeting.

Realistically, it's not like I would've made it back home in time anyway. And besides, the Moon Gathering can still save her, or at least buy more time for Dad to find a way to break her curse.

But this revelation still hurts for some reason.

Maddox moves a finger to my chin, tilting it up to make me look at him. The gesture sweeps away my troubled thoughts and heats something in my gut.

"I would try though, Love," he declares, brown eyes smoldering.

My eyes burn but not a single tear dares to form. I don't allow it.

Instead, I grip his hand and move it away from my face as I say, "Well, she should be far and few between our concerns right now. Getting out of this dimension is one thing, while the island is another. We should focus on where we are now."

"You don't have to do that," he says with a defiant rasp.

I retract my hand. "I know that," I breathe nonchalantly, letting my head rest against the wall. "I just don't want to dwell on it right now. I answered your questions, so that's that."

I see him looking at me out of the corner of my eye. I half-expect him to pry into my feelings, but he does me a favor and lets it go.

I watch the lantern, the earlier frantic waving of the flame has dwindled into a soft bounce.

Several minutes pass before Maddox breaks the silence.

"I have a question for you, Love."

He doesn't ask it until I turn my head to look at him. 

The vehemence in his eyes when he's curious is beguiling, making me hold my breath.

"Let's say I could cleanse your mother of her hex, and you knew she would live... Would you abandon the Moon Gathering then?" he asks, hopeful.

I shake my head, but slowly. "I already told you my mind was made up before I thought it was even possible to save her."

"No, your mind was made up before you met me." I blink, taken aback by his boldness. "I'm not going to stop trying to convince you to live, so please just tell me the truth... Could you possibly be swayed if your mother was taken out of the equation? If I could save her?" he presses.

I scowl at him. The way his mind ticks is frustrating—always so quick to assume he knows more than he does.

"No," I say stubbornly.

But something in my expression that he insists on studying so intently must've betrayed me because he smiles.

I hadn't realized he leaned in so close until he's pulling away. He slumps back against the cave wall, a satisfied look on his face.

I click my tongue. "Look, I don't know what you think you know, but—"

He cuts me off, sitting up again. "I have to tell you something, and it might piss you off because I didn't tell you until now."

"What?" I ask through a clenched jaw.

He swallows, looking uncertain. "I was waiting for the right time, and since we're being so open with each other now, I think this—

"What is it?" I demand, my curiosity getting the better of me.

I expect his next words to be more senseless pestering or perhaps some obscure detail he had left out about his mother's demise.

But that would be too easy.

Instead, his next words leave me speechless and unsure of what to feel, let alone say.

"I know who you are, Calypso Van Blake."