Valerian slowed his steps as they crossed the dimly lit corridor, the torches along the walls flickering like restless thoughts. His jaw tightened, and after a moment of silence, he spoke.
"I need to see Aurelia," he said. "I need to tell her to calm down, so that I'll handle things from now on."
Soren arched a brow, hands clasped behind his back as he walked, a grin threatening to spill from his face. "Is that truly the reason?"
Valerian glanced at him. "What other reason would there be?"
Soren's lips curved into a teasing smile. "Oh, I don't know. Perhaps you miss your wife. Perhaps you simply want to see her."
Valerian said nothing.
The silence stretched, heavy and telling. Soren's smile faded into something more knowing as he studied his brother's profile.
"The pull is getting stronger, isn't it?" Soren said quietly.
