Next day, they went to Sylthis. He received them in their chambers.
"Relationship problems?" Sylthis purred. "How delightfully ordinary for such extraordinary people."
"We need advice." Raziel said.
"You need permission to feel complicated things without guilt but advice works too." Sylthis gestured to sofa. "Sit. Tell me everything, and remember, I can smell lies, darlings."
"Nyx has feelings for Umbra." Raziel said bluntly. "She developed them during shadow magic training. She's choosing me despite those feelings, but they're not fading, and we're both exhausted from pretending that it is not affecting our relationship."
"Fascinating. And Umbra? What does he feel?"
"He is in love with me."Nyx replied. "He has been in love with me since the chip removal. He's staying away to give us space, but the distance isn't helping. I miss him."
"Of course you do. Absence intensifies attachment for people with trauma histories.
