The Grey God

"I saw the name on the obelisk in the immortal world when I returned your family's marker," Darian said.

To her credit, Jenn remained in her seat. He didn't touch her thoughts, already aware of the level of turmoil he'd just caused her. She was silent for a long moment and finally looked away from him. There was no sign of her inner angst in her deep brown eyes or on her beautiful features. But without her magic ability to cover her emotions, the air around her sizzled.

"You know the answer," she said in a low growl. "Why ask it."

"I need to know," he said. "You're not the only one terrified by this."

"I'm a liability," she said, raising an eyebrow in her only sign of offense. "I'd never betray you, Darian, no matter what ghosts are in my closet."

"Answer the question."

For the second time that day, he sensed how close she was to exploding. Jenn drew a steady breath and met his gaze again.

"I was betrothed when I was sixteen to another servant. My father had just landed a gig working for one of the lesser nobles after he saved the life of the noble's son. It pulled us off the streets. At first, I was thrilled, until I realized any freedom I had was now gone. On the streets, I could do what I wanted. In a noble house, everything down to my shoes was scripted for me. Our lord even chose the man I was to wed, another lesser servant in need of wife. He was twenty years older than me, born into his position. He didn't question anyone or anything, and I couldn't understand his world," she began. "I found out I was eligible to join the Guardians the day before I found out I was pregnant with Talia. I tried to run away twice, to take us both to the mortal world, where we could start over. My husband and father forbid it, locked me away until I had Talia, and believed a child would tame that part of me they couldn't. She couldn't."

Jenn's gaze grew distant. She fell quiet for a moment, and Darian watched the disjointed images in her mind as she recalled the memories.

"I left them both when she was two. I signed up for the Guardians, and I was getting ready to leave for the mortal world. My plan was to go, find a place, then come back for Talia. Then the first wave of the Schism hit. I went to check on them. The house was crushed. My … Talia was dead. My whole family."