(Isla)
The letter was shorter than I expected. Darius had written my name at the top, followed by words I had to read twice. He said if I was holding this letter, then Orin had decided the time had come. That meant my life had become about protecting someone besides myself.
I looked at Lyrienne before continuing. Her eyes were already on the page, but she hadn't seen this letter before. Caius remained beside me, close enough that our arms touched. I began reading the rest aloud.
"My little Isla, if Orin has given you this, then you have someone you would give everything to protect." My voice caught on the words. "I hope that means you have found a life filled with people you love." I stopped there for a moment.
Darius wrote that becoming my father had changed the way he understood fear
