POV: Caius

The Mage does not waste time with introductions or formalities. She sits in the chair across from the couch where Ayla lies and begins speaking as if she has been waiting centuries to say these exact words. Two hours pass without her pausing for breath or asking if we understand. She simply tells us what we should have known from the beginning.

The room is quiet except for her voice and the steady sound of Ayla’s breathing on the couch. Ryker stands behind the couch like a guard who has already failed at his post. Zane sits on the edge of a chair nearby, elbows on his knees,...