Page 122 of Elysian

“Vera?” I shouted, and she looked up from where she sat upon the seat.

Vera’s eyes widened. Damien pressed her shoulder down, stopping her from getting up. I flew forward and hugged her. Her blonde hair tangled into my face. With a final squeeze, I retreated, knocking into something hard.

The walking stick rocked back and forth on its side; the angled top stopped it from rotating entirely. I crouched to lift it and was faced with her leg . . . or lack thereof. Everything from her mid-shin down was gone, and what remained was wrapped tight with a bandage. Sorrow swelled forth. I had done this to her.

“None of that guilt,” Vera said, reaching for my arm and pulling me up. Damien grabbed the stick and leaned it against the table with a wink my way. “You saved me.”

A smile trembled on my lips.

“Come sit.” She patted the arm of the seat beside her. I moved toward it, and the oddest urge pulled me to turn.

Cassiel stood within the shadows, face masked from view. I hesitated calling him over.

‘Stay. I will be fine. I need a bit of rest.’

I watched him retreat, attempting to keep myself still so I did not follow.

He struck a lonely figure . . .

“Amara?” Vera was still speaking.

I shook it off and lowered on the cushioned seat surrounding the table hosting small, triangular sandwiches.

“Tell me of your escape from the House of Lords.”

I took one and nibbled at the edges. Crisp cucumber and soft bread slathered with creamy cheese. As it sat in my belly, the slight pinch receded. I had not realized how hungry I had become. As I ate, Vera and Branwen described their escape with Damien.

“The search for you and His Highness made our escape easier,” Branwen said. Throughout their descriptions of traveling, stealing provisions, and near-death Hollow attacks, I could not stop thinking of Cassiel and how something seemed off.

Of how alone he seemed.

I did not like it.

Even Lucinda had dragged a seat over and joined us.

“Are you well?” Vera asked, touching my knee. She studied me carefully as if reading through me.

I did not want him to be alone. Nor did I want him to be sad. That was the piece that bothered me so. He seemed so terribly sad.

“If you will excuse me. I think I will retire to bed.”

“How selfish of us! Of course, take your rest. We will be here when you rise,” Vera said. I hugged her first, then Branwen.

“I do not see the same sentimentality in our future,” Lucinda said to me as I straightened from my hug with Branwen.

“I would not even dream of it.” I grinned.

“Lucinda is not as cold as she pretends,” Vera tutted. “You are not fooling us.”

Lucinda rolled her eyes, and the girls continued to exchange quips back and forth.

As I turned, Damien caught my hand. “Thank you for saving Vera,” he whispered.

“I am glad you found each other.” I strangled his hand, yet he did not release me, so I waited patiently for whatever final words he had left.

“And I am sorry about your wraithling.” His eyebrows angled down. “She was a lively little creature.”

“She would have loved to hear you say that,” I choked out, and with a final squeeze of his hand, I left.