Chapter 25
“Titus, can we talk?”
“I’m not ready.”
“You’re never going to be ready.” Anne studied her brother, the way he was looking at the books in front of him, and knew he was planning something. “This is about Mateo.”
Even though he didn’t look at her some of the tension dissipated. “What about him?”
A thought Titus had, one he believed couldn’t possibly be, linked to Dante to Mateo. Look closely enough, and there were some similarities, especially to Gabriel. Fortunately Anne knew better than to bring him up, although it was Mateo who’d been the reason for the two of them leaving Glimmerbrook.
“You never said anything about Mateo having children.”
“As far as I could tell he didn’t.”
“You’re lying to me again.”
“There was a room, which might have belonged to a child, or children, but there was no one in the cottage.”
“Other than Mateo, and his wife.”
“Go upstairs. I’ll be with you soon.”
Sitting at the table, Anne stared down at it, mind on her nephew. Gabriel would have been one of those lost at the ritual, had he not left Glimmerbrook with Mateo. Even though Mateo was an infant he’d have still been able to share what he Saw well enough for Gabriel to know the truth.
Titus took the chair opposite, his eyes on hers when Anne lifted her head, and she could tell from the way he looked at her there was a very specific reason he’d made the decision to talk to her.
“Dante’s a Diaz.”
“No, Dante is a Fitzgerald. Who he’s related to doesn’t change that.”
“It does, however, explain the strength of his magic. Lockwoods have a tendency to breed true at the strangest of times.”
“He’s not a Lockwood either.”
“Mateo was. Dante’s probably the closest in power, and he’s also a Seer.”
“Are you trying to convince me he’s family?”
“We both know it wouldn’t change what you want to do to him, Titus.”
“Of course it wouldn’t. He isn’t one of us, Anne, the same way Mateo wasn’t, even though I hoped I’d be able to convince him to return home. In the end he made his decision, and I made mine.”
“Killing him.”
“His children survived.” Titus shrugged. “At least I assume they did. I never saw them.”
“One did. Thomas.” As Anne knew nothing about the sibling, thanks to Dante not knowing much, it wasn’t a lie. “He had a son, who had a son, but neither Thomas or Matthew were Seers.”
“Neither was Dante, until later.”
“Due to Thomas’ choices Dante came into his power late. It was luck he didn’t die.”
“Luck is an interesting thing.”
“You think it was bad luck.”
“He ended up here, Anne. I can hardly call it good, can I?” Titus shrugged. “Without him none of this would have happened, whatever you may want to believe, because you had no reason to change your mind.”
“I wasn’t happy.”
“There have been many lifetimes when you weren’t happy. It never led us to where we are now.”
“Maybe it was always meant to be, one way or another.”
“What do you mean?”
“Father was the one who talked about moments in time.”
“Are you truly going to tell me you believe Reuben and Gregor’s theories?”
“I’m not sure I believe, but I can’t help wondering.” Anne sighed. “You keep saying one more lifetime, when I’ve never seen your research, and I’ve no idea if any of what you’ve told me is the truth. So many lies have passed your lips through the lifetimes, brother, there’s no trust.”
“Father made me promise to keep you out of it.” There was only one person Titus ever called Father. “You were more important to him than you can possibly imagine, little sister.”
“Titus…”
“Some of the lies I’ve told you are due to that promise. One of many I made to him, related to you.”
“Why are you telling me this now?”
“It is important you have at least some understanding of the choices I’ve made through the lifetimes. Especially that first one.” Titus breathed in deeply. “You were Thaddeus’ only child.”
Anne stared at Titus. Words were an impossibility. She was the only child?
“None of this makes sense.”
“Having children was hard for them. Father blamed himself. I don’t know if it was his problem, or if it was Mother’s, but the time came when he found me just outside where the wards would be. Taking me in made sense to both of them, because I might be their only chance.”
“Titus…”
“Eventually they had you, and I thought it would change everything, but instead Father made me your protector. Silas, on the other hand, never saw you as anything. I was his favourite, which led to issues between them. Grandfather told me more than once I was the one.”
“You’re saying you weren’t my brother in our first life?”
“Not in blood, but in the end it didn’t matter. Father started with the promises, before getting one of his friends to create the soulbond, because he knew what was coming. He prepared for it as best he could. So did I, Anne.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about the soulbond?”
“Another promise made to Father. He didn’t want me to tell you until you’d found your soulmate.”
“How did he even know about that?”
“The reason he lost his sanity was because he was flooded with knowledge when I brought magic to the world.”
Anne studied Titus. “Tell me everything you know.”
“Father didn’t share it all with me, little sister, but I think he had an idea of how long it would take. If he Saw this…” Titus gestured at the room. “What he did tell me was enough for me to follow his plans, including search for immortality.”
“Did Father know what would happen to his soul?”
“He never said. Soulbonding us was something he said he’d done due to our close relationship, and he thought I was the best person to look after you.”
Sometimes it was hard to know if the emotion Titus showed was real, but the pain seemed to be.
“I wish you’d been able to tell me sooner.”
“You assume I’d have told you at all.” Titus looked down at the table. “As you know about the bond it makes sense to be open with you about this, but had you not… we both know I’m not a good person. Keeping you by my side comes first, little sister.”
“By lying?”
“Sometimes it’s a necessary evil, and please don’t pretend you’ve never lied to me. Or hidden things.” Titus’ eyes were still on the table. “Like your relationship with Jonathan, and how it led you to tell Cornelius the truth about the ritual. Honesty is only important when it’s mine.”
“Cornelius needed to know, but it’s not going to change the choices he makes next. He’s too tightly entwined by now, which I’ve realised is why he kissed me, and you knew it was going to happen.”
“Of course I did, the same way I knew about Jonathan. It was almost amusing to watch you sneak around.”
“Titus…”
Anne shook her head, looking down at the table as she tried to work through what his choices meant.
“Cornelius has been watching you for months, Anne, and you were blind to it.”
“I’d have liked to have stayed blind to it.”
“People fall in love with you. It’s the way it’s always been.”
Lifting her head, eyes on the wall just over Titus’ shoulder, Anne knew one of the ways he’d used her.
“Every time?”
“Most times. I would apologise, but we both know I’m not sorry. Causing you pain isn’t something I enjoy.”
“No, it’s a necessary evil.”
“Give me one more life, little sister.”
“Why would I?”
“You can’t break the soulbond in the time you have.”
Unfortunately, as much as Anne wished otherwise, Titus wasn’t wrong, and the way he studied her told her he was waiting for her to say she’d do what he wanted. “Maybe I can’t, but that doesn’t mean I have to give you another life.”
“I will do whatever I have to.”
“The way you always have.”
As he stood, turning his back to her, Titus shrugged. “Father wanted you to be immortal, little sister, and for it to be my gift to you. Even if there was no shared blood I loved you the same way then as I do now. Make the right choice.”
Anne rested her head on her hand, going over everything she’d never known. Titus believed the right choice was to go through with the ritual, and maybe she would, depending on what Celeste found. If all the soulmate bond would do was give Titus more power there was no other option.