Hello guys! I've had the stomach flu, so sorry for the gap between chapters. I hope you guys are enjoying, and as usual, let me know if there is anything I can do for you guys!

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(Jace Beleren)

I run my hand through my sweaty hair, Gideon and I have practiced with the sword until almost until dusk. I'm sure Lili cooked, she loves to. That is one thing that has been great about Lili and I living together, I'm a horrendous cook.

I know that she said she wouldn't keep things from me, but she did. I'm frustrated, but at the same time I can't be mad at her. She knows me and knows the way I act, and I'm thinking she had a good reason for her actions.

When I walk in the door, I see that my prediction was right. Lili had cooked. Beef stroganoff, which was my favorite. I'm pretty sure she thinks she's in trouble, and is pulling out all the stops to avoid a fight. I chuckle under my breath. We sit down to eat. I look down at the food, and back up to her. Suddenly, my appetite was fading. I play with the fork in my left hand for a second before Lili picks up on my mood.

"Is everything alright, Jace?"

I suck in a breath. I'm not angry, because I know she had to have a reason for doing what she did. All the same, however, I need answers.

"So we need to talk."

"Yes."

"Why didn't you just give it to me? Why did you go through all the trouble to hide it from me? And what made Kallist want to give it to you."

"Kallist told me that he felt as though his life was going to come to an end soon, and that he wanted his sword to go to you. He also knew you'd never take it. He gave it to me. I only took it because I could see his life aura fading. He didn't want to tell you that he was dying, and he made me agree to keep it a secret from you."

Kallist was right. I would have never taken his sword, I just would have laughed off his ridiculous "prediction" that his life was going to end soon. I take a bite of my food. It's good. It always is, with her.

"But why did you hide it?"

"Because Kallist said that I would know when the time was right. I trusted him. When I saw Wildspeaker's axe come toward your head and you had no way to defend yourself, I knew that it was the right time."

"Why didn't you just give it to me? Why did you give it to Gideon?"

Liliana's hand comes across the table, and she wipes the sauce off the corner of my lip. Though I'm frustrated, the gesture makes me smile.

"Because you would have argued that Kallist gave it to me, when he didn't. It's supposed to be yours, Jace."

I know that she makes a point with this. I would have never taken it from her, especially because it was Kallist's. It just opens another window of hurt that I would have rather remained shut.

"I gave it to Gideon and Ral because even if you would have taken it from me, I have no idea how to wield a sword. I rely on my magic and the chain veil."

"You know, you use this logic, and it's hard to be frustrated with you. Plus the fact that you're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen just makes it hard to be angry."

She smiles, grabs the plates, and runs a sink of soapy dish water, and heaves a sigh. Before I can ask any more questions, she speaks.

"I've got to find something to do during the day."

"Gideon mentioned that Chandra was getting a bit of cabin fever too. Perhaps you and her can find something to get into in this city."

"Maybe. If she's decided that she doesn't want to set me on fire anymore."

I nod in agreement. Chandra is one to hold grudges, but I think Lili set her straight last night.

"How was the training, Jace?"

"It was intense. Gideon showed no mercy, I'm pretty sure I'm going to have a huge bruise on my side where I caught the business end of Gideon's whip."

She runs her hand along my side, I wince. She lifts my shirt and looks at it. For sure, there is a large purple bruise forming. We finish the dishes in silence, and head back toward the couch. Lili looks at me, her eyes soft. I smile.

"Jace?"

I lift my head, acknowledging her question. Her eyes are unfathomably dark right know, it's like looking into pure, unadulterated night.

"He wanted you to have this, too."

It was a folded letter. His handwriting was on the outside. I heave a sigh, shakily. Lili puts her hand on my leg, bracing me. The gesture is comforting. I open it.

Jace,

If you're reading this, then my prediction was right. Two predictions, actually. Prediction number one: I'm dead. I felt it coming for months before it did. You're going to ask why I entrusted the sword to Liliana, and that brings me to my second prediction. You two would end up back in each other's care. I gave the sword to Lili because I knew you'd never take it from me. You would brushed off the omen that I had seen, but Lili didn't. Long before you knew, Liliana saw my life aura faltering. She came to me and asked if there was anything she could do, but I replied that I had been feeling this for quite some time. She agreed to keep this from you, because your mind magic was making your psyche fragile. Anyways, I told her that the only thing she could do for me was to make sure that my sword ended up back in your hands. Obviously, it has. I wish I was there to see your face when you see the web that Liliana and I had been spinning for a while.

Secondly, Jace, I knew you two would ultimately end up together. She's a fireball, a pistol, but you know that already. Take care of her, Jace. You two belong together. Watching you two is like watching a mirror.

Thirdly, you were the best friend that I've ever had. I'm sorry Lili and I kept this from you, but it was the only way. I know we don't say this much, but I love you, and you'll always be my brother.

Take care of each other.

-Kallist

I didn't know that I was crying until Lili wiped a tear off of my cheek. I smile at her and put the letter to the side. She moves to my lap, cradling my head to her chest, kissing the top of my once-sweaty mane. Reading this from Kallist has steeled my resolve. I've loved Liliana Vess since we three were together, and when she left, I never stopped loving her. But this letter reminds me that life is fragile and that you don't always get a chance to say what you need to say. I look her in the eyes, smiling.

"I love you, Liliana Calliope Vess. I never stopped loving you. And I'm no longer going to deny myself the simple pleasure of saying that, because it's the truth. I love you. I'll always love you."

She just smiles in return, planting a kiss on my lips. She opens her eyes and cups my face.

"I love you, Jace Beleren. And you're right. I never stopped loving you either. You're my one source of life and light among the dead, and I'll be damned, no pun intended, if someone or something is going to take you away from me."

The next moment, I kiss her like we've never kissed before, she's so close to me that I can feel her heart beating. This kiss is everything we've not been able to say over the past few years, every hidden emotion, every unspoken prayer that the other would return. This is no longer the kiss of lovers, this is the kiss of two people in love. She showed me the difference. I can't get close enough to her fast enough I grab my shirt and pull it over my head, letting it fall to the floor. The look in my Lili's eyes changes, changing the static in the air. She turns, allowing me to unlace the purple corset. I speak, just to be sure.

"Are you sure?"

Her head nods, no hesitation.