Chapter 68

His voice is like a last lingering stroke, giving me tingles as I move to leave him. I nod at him, not anywhere close to feeling as confident as I pretend, before turning on my heel, steeped in nervous energy, and letting Mateo guide me with that single hand on my shoulder. Colton’s memories show me they’re best friends, but Mateo is also one of his commanders, and he trusts him completely. Mateo is as familiar a face in my memories as Colton as they were always together, like brothers or inseparable shadows. He’s the one who teased him that day in the lake in the memory Colton showed me, and I guess he already knows that a long time ago, Colton knew who I was. That Colton harbored some sort of juvenile feelings. Even as children, the Fates were trying to draw me to him. I walk with him now, side by side, a male as tall as Colton and as broad. They share similarities, and I wonder if they’re maybe cousins or have a close blood tie because they look alike. Same thick straight brows and