Caleb - present

My hand stills on Red’s back as I reminisce about the past. When I fall silent as I remember my fight with the one trapped in the sword, my soulmate and love of my life says, “You won the right to use the Sword of Nightmares from the god trapped in the blade.”

She has no idea how right she is about that.

“Something along those lines.” It’s too complicated to explain what happened after I was absorbed in the sword. To be frank, I don’t think I understand everything myself, but Red is right, I was given the right to use it.

“What happened after?” she asks.

I drag the loofah sponge across her back, my gaze on her tattoo, wondering why it appeared on her skin, and say, “I think you already know. Not long after I pulled out the sword and knew without a shadow of a doubt that I was the heir to the throne and a descendant of Queen Sera and King Aris, I saw you fighting with…”

A crease forms between my brows as I fall silent, thinking of the day I first saw Red in the Diamond Realm.

“My