Rea leaned against the cold brick wall outside, exhaling slowly. The weight of everything still pressed on her, the truth unraveling like an endless thread she couldn't grasp fast enough. Her fingers toyed with the hem of her jacket as she replayed her father's words in her head.
Then, footsteps.
She didn't need to turn to know who it was.
"You know," Aster's voice was light, teasing, "I'm still waiting for my wedding invitation."
Rea groaned, tilting her head back against the wall. "Not you too."
Aster leaned beside her, arms crossed. "It's a pretty big deal, you running away with me and not telling anyone."
Rea shot him a look. "I'm going to murder Elena."
Aster smirked. "Not before she picks out the dress."
Despite herself, Rea let out a small laugh, shaking her head. Aster's teasing always had a way of cutting through the storm in her mind. For a second, things almost felt… normal.
But the moment passed, and silence settled between them.
Aster shifted, staring up at the night sky. "You ever feel like your whole life is just… one giant joke?"
Rea glanced at him. "I take it you're not just talking about the wedding thing?"
He let out a breathy laugh, but it lacked any real amusement. "Turns out Westwood wasn't my father. Turns out Collaway is. Turns out my entire life was a lie." His fingers twitched at his side. "And to top it all off, my own brother hates me."
Rea's chest tightened at the pain laced in his words.
"I mean, I always knew Jaxon and I weren't close," Aster continued, his voice quieter now. "But I thought—" He hesitated. "I thought maybe, deep down, we were still family. That even if we fought, even if he was always in control… we were still brothers." He scoffed. "Guess that was a lie too."
Rea's voice was soft. "He doesn't hate you, Aster."
He let out a bitter chuckle. "Could've fooled me."
Silence stretched between them before he spoke again, this time even lower. "And then there's Rina."
Rea watched him carefully.
"She keeps looking at me like she knows me," Aster muttered. "Like she's waiting for me to say something. But what the hell am I supposed to say?" His jaw clenched. "Hey, nice to meet you, Mom. Sorry I spent my entire life thinking you abandoned me?"
Rea stayed quiet. She knew the weight of unwanted truths. Of feeling like your existence itself was just… wrong.
Aster exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand down his face. "And then there's Christy. And this whole mission. And whatever the hell we're all supposed to be fighting for. I don't even know who I am anymore, Rea."
His voice dropped, so quiet it was almost a whisper. "I'm scared."
Rea turned fully to face him. "Aster…"
"I know I act like I don't care," he admitted, eyes flickering toward her before looking away again. "Like none of this gets to me. But it does."
Rea nodded slowly. "I get it."
Aster huffed. "Do you?"
"I just found out I'm not even human," she said bluntly. "So yeah, I think I do."
That made Aster pause. He turned to her, really looking at her now.
She shrugged, her voice quieter. "I don't even know what I am."
Aster studied her for a moment before muttering, "Well, if it helps, you seem pretty human to me."
Rea snorted. "High praise."
Aster smirked, but the amusement didn't quite reach his eyes.
For a moment, they just stood there, two people caught in a mess they never asked for, both drowning in questions they weren't sure had answers.
Finally, Rea nudged his arm. "We'll figure it out."
Aster glanced at her. "Yeah?"
"Yeah," she said. "Even if everything else is a lie… we're still here."
Aster exhaled, nodding slowly. "Guess that's something."
They stood in silence a little longer before Aster gave her a sideways grin. "So… about the wedding…"
Rea groaned, shoving him lightly as he laughed, the sound real this time.
And for just a moment, the weight of everything felt a little lighter.