corner of hell itself.
And I couldn’t imagine anywhere else I’d rather be.
I blinked, and blinked again, as I tried to focus on what looked like a dark figure sitting just outside the cell. My heart kicked into a sprint as I wondered who it was. As if sensing my rising fear, Valentin held me closer, but the sleeping pills he had taken kept him locked in deep slumber.
I stared and I stared trying to make out a face. Then the shadow shifted position, the dim light revealing who it was.
“Zaal?” I whispered. I could not move from my side of the makeshift bed. Valentin’s arm was wrapped around my waist. Even in sleep, he wasn’t letting me go.
“It’s me.” Zaal’s deep quiet voice echoed off the walls.
My heart warmed on my hearing his voice. Having him close again after all these years. But there was an awkwardness, too.
“I can barely see you,” I said, squinting my eyes to bring him into focus.
“I didn’t want you to know I was here,” he revealed. His voice was sad in tone. I knew it was because I had hurt him.
“Come closer, sykhaara,” I instructed softly.
Zaal paused, but I saw his legs move. My brother rose to his impressive height and slowly moved closer to the bars of the cell. Zaal stepped into the light. I couldn’t help but smile at his long hair that hung over his shoulders. He was wearing all black—black shirt and black jeans. I smiled wider knowing that Zaal had become the man my father dreamed he would be. My throat clogged with emotion when I imagined a replica of him standing by his side. Together, my brothers would have been a force to be reckoned with.
Zaal’s head was down as he loomed beyond the bars.
“Why were you hiding, sykhaara?”
His shoulders dropped and he ran his hand through his long hair. “I didn’t think you’d want to see me. But I needed to know you were safe. I needed to make sure you were okay.”
In an act of possession, I ran my hand over Valentin’s arm around my waist and tucked myself farther against his chest. Valentin never stirred, but I heard a soft sigh escape his lips and blow against my hair.
I smiled a whisper of a smile and lifted his hand to kiss his warm clean skin. A sound from beyond the cell pulled my attention, and when I glanced up I saw Zaal had sat down on the floor, right in the center of the doorway. He leaned against the rigid bars, his torso facing mine.
I stared at my brother. He had his legs bent and his strong arms leaning on his elbows. His head was down, and my heart sank with disappointment at how awkward our meeting had been.
Keeping hold of Valentin’s hand for strength, I admitted, “I did not imagine that our reunion would be so strained.”
Zaal tensed. I watched as his head dropped farther forward. Inhaling deeply, he agreed, “Neither did I.”
He didn’t add anything else. In this reserved persona I saw the Zaal of old. Anri had always been the joker, the louder of the two. He would speak for Zaal, Zaal—quiet, timid, but just as strong—stood at Anri’s side. It seemed all the years spent apart had not changed the fact that Zaal was happy to let others speak while he sat back and watched the world from afar.
I pictured him laughing with Talia and wondered if she was louder in personality. I hoped so. Zaal needed someone vibrant in his life. He was never happy being alone.
Sighing, I ran my hand down my face and said, “I dreamed what meeting you again would be like.” I huffed a laugh and admitted, “I fear I may have placed too much expectation on that dream. The reality of seeing you again is so different.”
Zaal tensed. His head moved as if my words had struck a sensitive chord. Panicking, I proclaimed, “I love you, sykhaara. This has never changed. And I am so unbelievably happy you are here. You’re my big brother and I have you back. I have family again.” I laughed, gentler this time, and said, “You know you were always my favorite. You were my hero and my heart. That is unchanged. In fact, seeing you again has only strengthened that love.”
Zaal kept his head down, and I pleaded, “Please look at me, sykhaara.”
Zaal raised his head. His bright green gaze met mine. Just as I thought he would not