Chapter 81 - (Un)sealed Doorways

"I have bored you with my family's histories, have I not?"

"You did not bore me."

"It feels unfair that I did not ask of yours."

She frowned, the book and that image drawn largely over it, blurring out, turning into a mere background as her mind moved to different thoughts from what was in front of her.

All she could think about was how her family had been such a weakness to her, a vulnerable longing that the Bride Thief had easily used and almost gotten away with, if she had not been observant. Her mind centered around that lack and the emptiness fed her brain.

She didn't want to think about it, so she wouldn't say.

"You already know."

"There must be some that you would love to tell me personally?"

"No, Eli. I have nothing to say." She snapped, regretting it immediately. With clumsy hands, she pushed the book back on shelf, making it blend in with the others.

"I"m sorry. I just don't want to talk about them, they are not nice to remember."

"That is alright." He took her hand, turni