Page 107 of Infernal Secrets

“There’s more to it.”

“There’s not.”

When Ezra remained silent for far too long, I looked over at him. “What?”

“I never thought you would lie to me,” he said. Despite his neutral expression, his softened tone revealed how my deceit affected him.

I wasn’t sure what to say to him.

Though I couldn’t explain it, warmth spread through me—a comfort and rightness that always came with Rae’s presence. The thought of returning home without her sat heavy like lead in my stomach.

A part of me didn’t want to return.

I’d lived my life serving the Kilnejar family, and here I was, harboring thoughts of remaining on Earth. How could I look out for Ezra and my brothers here?

Pushing the eggs around in the frying pan, I shared the truth with Ezra. “I thought she was my Nyrith.”

“What?” His voice lowered. “Since when?”

“The very first night,” I said, turning the temperature down on the stove. “I’ve struggled with it for weeks. She’s human. It shouldn’t be possible.” I turned to him. His mouth pressed into a tight line. “I know what she feels.”

“Are you saying you share the empathic connection between mates with her?”

“Yes. No. I’m not sure.” I turned off the burner and scooped the scrambled eggs into a bowl, placing it on the counter.

“Either you know or you don’t.”

Gathering strawberries and raspberries from the refrigerator, I dumped them into a bowl beside the eggs. “If she were Shyrlivi, I wouldn’t feel confused about it. But she’s human. Have you ever sensed a human’s emotions when you’ve come to Earth? Have they acted empathetic to you?”

Ezra shook his head. “I never interact with them unless necessary. I don’t get close enough. Anything else?”

“Other than hearing the word ‘Nyrith’ in my head, tempting me at every turn?” I laughed at his surprised expression. It took a lot to catch Ezra off guard. “I don’t understand it either.”

Hearing voices wasn’t part of recognizing your Nyrith mate. It added weight to the idea that someone—or something—manipulated our link to Rae.

Ezra plucked a raspberry from the bowl, studying it before popping it into his mouth. He swallowed before he said, “When she spoke of candied blood, the idea floated in my head even though it defied prophecy. But when she experienced the same with both you and Cyn, I realized it couldn’t be.”

One way Shyrlivi confirmed a Nyrith pairing was through blood exchange.

Blood consumption wasn’t essential to our survival, but some Shyrlivi savored blood for pleasure. But drinking the average Shyrlivi’s blood couldn’t compare to consuming the blood of your Nyrith. The texts and firsthand accounts all note the sweet overtones that softened the heavy metallic tang of blood.

“Did her blood taste different to you when you healed her?”

Ezra sighed like a man reluctant to admit the truth. “Yes. I’ve tasted nothing finer in my life. It was the sole reason I questioned our connection when she asked about our blood’s flavor. Though I can’t say I’ve experienced a strong empathic connection with her.”

I stared at the bowl of berries, reflecting on his words.

He leaned back on his stool, a severe frown souring his expression. Dismissing whatever thought crossed his mind, he said, “The likelihood that Shyrlivi blood tastes sweet to humans seems far more plausible than a human Nyrith.”

I remembered how she latched onto Cyn’s wrist, desperate to consume his blood. She acted like the Jinphni District’s beggars, craving the exotic powders and syrups offered to visitors desiring unconventional entertainment and goods in the Dens.

The council knew employees at the Dens—a members-only venue—added toxins and plant pollen to boost potency illegally. Ezra’s father turned a blind eye, citing the taxes as worth the cost.

“She behaved as though his blood intoxicated her,” Ezra said, echoing my own thoughts. He hesitated, his gaze sliding to the bowl of eggs. “It’s worth documenting with Father when we return.”

My jaw muscles tensed, but I leaned against the counter, feigning ease. I knew he didn’t want to tell his father, but he wouldn’t risk it coming out later. “Do you think someone is playing a game with us?”

“In what way?”