Revealed

time,” I said.
    “That’s right. It’s more about logic and life-span. And choice. Because we are a matriarchal society, we can choose without judgment or condemnation. Does that help you with your problem?”
    “Well, yes and no. Thanks for explaining the multiple guy thing to me, but I still don’t know what to do about the Heath slash Aurox thing,” I said miserably.
    “Why do you have to do anything?”
    “Because I
have
done something. And ignoring it isn’t fair to Aurox or to Stark.” I sighed again. “Or, I guess, to Heath.”
    “So you have taken Aurox as your lover, along with Stark?”
    “No!” I squeaked, and peeked over Persephone’s shoulder at Lenobia. She gazed steadily back at me, nonjudgmental and serene. “I drank a little of his blood, though,” I admitted.
    “And because you’re not like a normal first-year fledgling, that’s very addictive and exciting for you. Correct?”
    “Yeah, correct,” I admitted.
    “Does Stark know?”
    “Oh, god, no! He’d totally freak. He’s already acting like a possessive jerk whenever Aurox is anywhere near me.”
    “But he knows you were mated to Heath and that Heath’s soul is within Aurox.”
    “That’s why he’s acting like a possessive jerk. Apparently it’s
not
okay with Stark for me to see Heath, ur, Aurox. And as far as Stark knows we’ve hardly even talked to each other.”
    “Aurox is drawn to you.”
    She didn’t phrase it as a question, but I answered. “Yeah, he is. It’s because Heath’s inside him. It’s not like a conscious thing. It’s weird—and unsettling. Aurox will just be this kid who is kinda cute, but who I’m not particularly attracted to or anything, and then—
bam!
—I’ll blink and he’ll say or do something that is so Heath-like that it makes my heart hurt.”
    “If you weren’t bonded with Stark, would you want to be with Aurox?”
    I chewed my lip. “I’m not sure. I love Heath. I’ll always love Heath. But Aurox isn’t
really
my Heath.”
    “You mean it’s like how Kalona was drawn to you because within you is the maiden A-ya’s soul, and he recognized her presence?”
    That comparison surprised me, but the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. “I think you’re right about that. Wow, that actually makes it easier for me. Kalona did want me because of A-ya, and I have to admit I could feel a deep pull toward him, too. But it wasn’t real. I’m
not
A-ya, and
I
didn’t choose to love him. Aurox isn’t Heath.
He
doesn’t need to choose to love me—remnants of Heath love me, that’s all.”
    “I hate to complicate things for you, but to be fair you need to know that Aurox could love you as well. Travis is a reincarnation of my only mate, Martin. He does not have Martin’s memories. He is actually very dissimilar to my Martin, and yet he is as eternally devoted to me as I am to him.” Lenobia’s smile was tender, her eyes filled with tears. “You do get to take love with you, and some of us are lucky enough to find it again.”
    “Lenobia, I’m super happy for you, but you did just complicate the crap out of this for me,” I said.
    “Zoey, your situation was already complicated. Do you want my advice on how I would handle it?”
    “Hell yes,” I said.
    “This is going to sound cold, selfish even, but were I in your place, I would decide who I truly wanted to be with without worrying about what either of those boys wanted. The only way you will ever be content with your choice is if you make it for yourself and not for someone else.”
    I put down the curry brush and stared at her. “Is it really as simple as that?”
    “If you can be honest with yourself, and then follow through with that honesty, yes, it is,” Lenobia said.
    “You’ve given me a lot to think about, but at least now I have a direction to go,” I said.
    “You have to love and be true to yourself before anyone else can love and be true to you.”
    The bell that signaled the end of school rang. I fisted my hand over my heart and bowed respectfully to her. “Thank you, Lenobia.”
    Lenobia returned the traditional gesture and said, “I wish you always to blessed be, Zoey Redbird.”
    “Stark, we need to talk.” I hated to say those words probably as much as Stark hated to hear them. I mean, who doesn’t? Has anyone’s mom or dad, girlfriend or boyfriend, teacher or boss ever started a
good
conversation with them?
    “Okay, but I thought we were going to watch
Big Bang