Free Shadowed Magic (The Enlightened Species Novella) by Wendy S. Hales

to be his concubine?” The outrage on Eros's face melted her heart. “Aymee, you are a woman of immeasurable worth. If the 'prick' didn't recognize the value of your love, he doesn't deserve it.”
    “That's how I felt, too. So, I told him to 'go to hell.'” Then she'd tried to recover from Mitch. A long process she only realized now, looking at Eros, she'd accomplished. Mitch had never been LESS appealing to her than now.
    Eros brushed her bangs from her forehead. “The right response to a male out of line, to be sure, though I doubt it aided your heartbreak. I too have loved in my lifetime. When a love is pure, it never dies, when corrupt, it morphs into something dark before it invariably dies.”
    “You're talking about your wives right, the mothers of your children.” And something Aymee had always been curious about. She knew from Umbrae that Eros's sons were born of three different mothers. Added to Umbrae's mother, Eros had been married four times. All were human women known as Heredity because they could bear human/Elven hybrid, aka Hulven, children.
    The look of sorrow broke her heart. “They were each amazing women. I cherish the memory of them … except Umbrae's mother. She knew my species before our marriage. Declared her love before her god and I upon my honor. Our wedding night was beautiful, yet she ran away the next day. Months later, I learned of her suicide. Though hurt, I didn't curse her memory. I took the blame. Justified her action as a shortcoming of my disclosure … my fault, somehow. When I learned of Umbrae-- that she delivered my child only to abandon her to a fate worse than death, the darkness began. That act of betrayal corrupted the love I felt for her smearing it with dark resentment. My children are my joy.” His voice fell quieter as he spoke. “I would appreciate it if you never share that with Umbrae. She needn’t know I despise her mother.”
    Aymee felt his words strike her deep inside. Even his pity of Mitch became clear. To lose the love of a male like Eros … She pitied Umbrae's mother. He'd shared that painful experience in camaraderie to her. It touched her more than any compliment she'd ever gotten. “You know Umbrae adores you, right?” He gave her a half-smile. “Repeat after me: I know, right.” His brow quirked. “I know … right.” she prompted again.
    “I know...” Eros started, Aymee made a rolling motion with her hand to encourage him. “Right.” She awarded him a smile. He chuckled and stood. “I thought you might like this.” He pulled a book from a shelf along the wall and handed it to her. The soft leather binding and discolored pages gave her an idea of the book's age. She opened it, rubbing her fingers over the ink raised from the sheets. She recognized some of the symbols, while others eluded her.
    She met his gaze. “What is it?”
    He answered in a language that sounded Asian. Though not Japanese, it held similar nuances. He held his hand out and she handed the book back. “ The Art of War by Sun Tzu. It's the truest written account of his teachings ... according to him that is. He's become reclusive in the last thousand years.”
    Aymee knew her jaw gaped open. “Sun Tzu?” The Art of War was the strategic basis for martial arts across the globe … among other things. American Generals quoted from it during newscasts. Entire countries had trained their military’s based on the principles of Sun Tzu. She had a copy on her desk at the Ryu. “Wasn't he born before Christ?”
    Eros sat on the floor beside the couch with his knees bent. Without thought, Aymee pulled the leather thong holding his hair free so she could run her good hand through the silken strands. The effect of the pain pills had started to take effect, and she yawned. Eros's silver eyes clashed with hers over his shoulder. “Quite some time earlier than Christ, actually. I am not surprised you are familiar with Sun's words. This particular rendering has several