32
Maia snagged Kheir's sleeve as they headed back to the Wyvern’s Rest to gather their thoughts and come up with another plan. With everything Isak had told them, there was no way they were leaving Venhaus without stopping the shit happening on that island. If more saints could come through the circle ... they needed to shut it down.
What Isak said lingered in her mind.A saint had refused to be reborn in a new body and found their own way back into the world.What if others refused and joined with Ismene's dark saint? Facing her aunt was terrifying enough with one saint, let alone more.
Speaking of Isak...
"Can you tell Ark about Isak?" she whispered in Kheir's ear as they reached the Wyvern’s Rest, loving him for the easy way he nodded, not questioning her.
She leaned up to kiss him quickly. "I need to tell Jaro myself."
Kheir tucked an errant strand of silver hair behind her ear. "Take as long as you need, my star. We'll give you the room for privacy."
Maia kissed him again and tried to ignore the terrified swoop of her stomach at the thought of being alone with Jaro. She needed to watch her words very fucking carefully; he hovered on the edge of a break, and Maia could easily be his undoing.
Her stomach knotted tighter as they walked up the staircase in the back. The barman had been ecstatic to find out they'd be staying for more than one night. Az had a new bestie.
"Jaro," she breathed when they reached the top. Kheir ushered the others into the two rooms at the end, and Maia's shoulders sagged in relief. She angled her head at the bedroom she'd shared with Kheir, relieved when Jaro followed.
"I think I know what you're going to say," Jaro began, anxiety obvious in his voice.
"I really doubt that," Maia replied with a nervous laugh. She paced to the bed and perched on the edge, twisting her fingers together. "Look, there's no easy way to say this, and I know things are strained with us right now, but—"
"You want to break the bond," he finished with a nod.
Maia shot to her feet, her heart spasming with sudden pain. "No. Never, Jaro. That's not ... Ineverwant to break the bond. You're my mate," she said, struggling to get air into her lungs, "and that means something to me."
Jaro blinked over and over, not looking at her. "What?" he asked, his voice small and shattered.
Maia dragged a hand down her face. "I just need time. I don't want to break our bond. I can't—I can't think about it. You and—him." Every word was like broken glass scratching up her throat. "I hate him. I always have, but now—now he's touched you, my mate—"
A snarl stole the rest of her words, and she had to work hard to silence it, but she couldn't soften her heavy breathing.
Jaro had gone very still. Instead of pacing, he froze, and Maia's chest went even tighter to see him so still.
"What else?" he asked, nothing but a calm mask on his face. "If you didn't want to end us, then what?"
Maia's shoulders hunched, and she paced to the window, too cowardly to look at him. "I can't control who my mates are. You know that, right? It's some other power that pushes us together, decides we're right for each other."
"Yes," Jaro said warily.
She bit her lip. "I have another mate. I felt it tonight."
Jaro was quiet for a moment, and then he said, "I've suspected for a while."
Maia faced him, frowning deeply. "How? I only met him today."
"You—" Jaro froze, his eyes going wide and then dead. Utterly dead, no life in them at all. "That's why you wanted to talk to me alone."
"Who did you think I was talking about?" Maia asked, a sharp pain piercing her chest—his.
"Bryon," he said numbly.
Maia choked on a laugh. "Bryon? I think we'd murder each other."
"My brother. Isak," Jaro said, staring at the wall across from him. "Is your mate."
"If it helps, I don't want him," Maia offered quietly, staring out the window without truly seeing the street below. "If I could change it, I would."