Page 136 of Deathless & Divided

“Cara?” Lily asked.

Abriella stood straight, crossing her arms. “Looks good. Just like we thought.”

Lily paid Abriella no mind. She was more concerned about her new friend and the permanent frown Cara couldn’t seem to get rid of. Lea Rossi’s funeral had been a quick, quiet affair. Lily accompanied Damian to the service and grave when Lea was buried. The Rossi family was still suffering from a mixture of shock and pain from the killing.

Cara probably had it the worst. She hadn’t just lost a friend and sister, she’d lost her twin. The thing some people considered to be the other half of her soul. How could someone ever settle something like that in their heart?

Lily didn’t begrudge Cara for her distraction or sadness.

Lily said the girl’s name louder the second time. “Cara?”

Cara’s head snapped up like someone had burned her. “Yeah?”

“Are you okay?” Lily asked.

“I’m—”

“Please don’t say fine,” Lily interjected gently.

Abriella rolled her eyes. “You’re the bride, Lily. We’re not supposed to upset you today.”

“Exactly,” Cara said, waving at Abriella. “I’m fine, really.”

She wasn’t.

Lily didn’t care what the girl had to say.

“It upsets me when you fake something for my benefit,” Lily pointed out.

Cara laughed a sad sound. “I don’t know how to do anything else right now.”

“Be honest,” Lily said. “Tell me something about Lea and you. Or even just you. Whatever. Give me anything.”

Cara didn’t look like she knew what to say to that.

“Are you going back to Canada after the wedding?” Abriella asked.

“Yes,” Cara said. “I have school.”

Lily frowned. “You don’t want to stay a little while longer? I know your family is glad to have you back.”

Well, Damian and Tommas seemed to really like having Cara home.

Cara sucked in a deep breath. “I need to go back. I can’t stay here. This place doesn’t feel like Lea at all. The only memories we have here are bad ones from when we were younger. I don’t know how Tommas does it. Or even Damian, really. I can’t stand being near my parents. I wished they would have cremated her so I could take a piece of her back with me. This isn’t home. She deserves to go back home.”

Lily watched Abriella blink away the wetness gathering in her eyes.

“I’m sorry,” Lily murmured.

“I’m still waiting to wake up and find out this is a dream,” Cara said quietly. “But it’s not, I’m never going to wake back up to find her here, and that makes it worse.”

Lily’s guilt only climbed higher.

Abriella opened up the door a crack and popped her head in. “Ten minutes.”

Lily nodded. “Thanks.”

“By the way, somebody is here to see you.”