“Alright. That is fair,” Nev replied sincerely.
“Good,” Addi stated.
Nev sat quietly and watched as Addi gingerly removed the lightly, blood-stained bandages from her shoulder. As Addi worked, Nev caught a glimpse of the “mark” she carried. “Is that it?” Nev whispered, her voice shaky.
Addi stopped what she was doing and looked up at Nev. “Yes. Have you never seen one?” she asked quietly.
“No. I am not usually this close to other people,” Nev admitted.
Nodding and pushing up her sleeve, Addi extended her arm and held her wrist close to Nev. “Go ahead. You should be allowed to see a piece of what you’ve had to run from,” she offered quietly.
Nev hesitantly traced the outlines of the “mark’s” branding with her finger. It could have been beautiful if its creation was not born of such malevolence. The lines had been seared into the flesh by an unknown means. They left shimmering trails that swirled into the shape of a raven. Nev shuddered as she sensed the evil brimming within it and its connection to her blood. Her hand shaking, she pulled her fingers back and tucked her hand close to her chest. “I am so sorry,” Nev stammered, struggling to catch her breath.
“Yeah,” Addi sighed, her voice strained and quiet.
“Addi,” Nev started to say softly.
“Don’t. You don’t have to. Look, I know I said some mean things to you back in Birclan, but Wyatt was right. It isn’t your fault, and I’m sorry. This whole world is just really messed up right now, and I just… well, I just wanted someone to pay for it. But that person isn’t you. Anyway, now you know a little more than you did,” Addi stated, looking at Nev and giving her a half-smile.
Nodding and smiling back, Nev replied, “Thank you. And I am truly sorry. For all of it. I’m really, really going to try and make it right.”
Addi replied, “I know. And that is part of what worries me.”
Nev looked at her, feeling perplexed.
“My brother is wonderful. But surely you can see how sensitive he is. He is so similar to our mother. Anyway, you must know how much he wants to take care of you. I thought he might just be infatuated. It made sense seeing how you are the first… well, first everything. In Birclan, I was annoyed with him for putting himself in so much danger for a crush,” Addi explained.
“I understand,” Nev tried to offer.
“No. I’m not certain you do. After our parents died, Wyatt was supposed to be my responsibility. But as much as I always tried to protect him, it was him that took care of me. It is what he does for someone… someone he loves,” Addi described before sighing. “It is obvious that he is madly in love with you. And you, in all fairness, seem to feel the same way. Now, I think it is crazy to fall for someone so fast. But Wyatt has always done things in his own time. Which with you is apparently very quickly,” Addi continued.
“I do love him. More than anything,” Nev stated sincerely.
“Yeah. And that is where my worry comes from. Look, I don’t know or even need to know everything you have been through. It is clear enough that your life has been far harder than most. I just… I worry what those scars you carry, and this path you seem to be on are going to mean for my brother. So, I need you to make me a promise,” Addi whispered, her voice hushed and serious.
Nev could feel her eyes swelling with tears. She shared Addi’s worry for Wyatt and her deep desire to keep him safe. “Alright, ask,” Nev replied, quiet and tearful.
“I know he made you a promise to stay and help you. So, I need you to promise that when the time comes, you will release him from it. He may still follow you, but at least I’ll know he isn’t doing it because of some fool sense of obligation to an oath he made. Do this, and I will promise to stay and help you. I’ll also not hate you when he, quite likely, follows you to danger anyway,” Addi requested. She didn’t know if Nev’s promise would keep Wyatt safe in the end. Even so, Addi needed to know that she had tried to fulfill the last promise she’d ever made to her parents.
Tearful, Nev nodded. “I promise,” she vowed.
“Alright. You and I are now good. I will do my best to help you with whatever comes,” Addi promised, with a smile.
“Thank you for your help. And for letting me be part of you and your brother’s life,” Nev replied with a small smile.
Addi got back to work, rebandaging Nev’s shoulder. “That is why I am here. To be a helper. Well, that and to try and keep you both out of trouble,” Addi said, laughing softly.
Nev grinned for a moment. She hadn’t ever spent much time around girls or women. As a child, she’d wondered what it would’ve been like to have her mom around. Or a sister. Nev liked to think she and Addi might get to a point where Addi actually wanted her around instead of just learning to tolerate her presence.
“Oh, and speaking of trouble. I know you said your father raised you. Now, I really… really don’t need to know any details. However, I’m not blind. So, I need to know that you’re smart about things. You do know how not to…” Addi began to ask before pausing briefly. Staring at Nev, she whispered, “How not to get pregnant? I mean, besides the obvious.”
Nodding, Nev could feel her cheeks grow red. “I stayed with a family very briefly once that had teenage daughters. I
