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"If you bring that male anywhere near her, I’ll--"
"You’ll what?" Cassian crooned, trailing her at a casual pace as she stopped perhaps five feet from me He lifted a brow as she whirled on him "You won’t jointo hold your own in a fight You won’t talk about your powers, so you certainly aren’t going to be able to wield them And you--"
"Shut yourempress "I told you to stay the hell away from me, and if you--"
"You cooing to learn about the consequences the hard way"
Nesta’s nostrils flared Cassian only gave her a crooked grin
I cut in, "If Elain is not up for it, then she won’t see hi on her But he does wish to see her, Nesta I’ll ask on his behalf, but the decision will be hers"
"The male who sold us out to Hybern"
"It’s more complicated than that"
"Well, it will certainly be one What do you plan to tell him about all this?"
"Seeing as he hasn’t sent word from the continent in months, I’ll worry about that later," I sniped back And thank the Cauldron for it--that he was off trading in so toward the chair and her book "I don’t care Do what you want"
A stinging dish to consider Elain’s needs first Rhys jerked his chin at Cassian in a silent order to leave, and as I followed them, I said softly, "I’m sorry, Nesta"
She didn’t answer as she sat stiffly in her chair, picked up her book, and dutifully ignored us A blow to the face would have been better
When I looked ahead, I found Cassian staring back at Nesta as well
I wondered why no one had yet azed at
The suite was filled with sunlight
Every curtain shoved back as far as it could go, to let in as much sun as possible
As if any bit of darkness was abhorrent As if to chase it away
And seated in a small chair before the sunniest of the s, her back to us, was Elain
Where Nesta had been in contented silence before we found her, Elain’s silence was … hollow
Empty
Her hair was down--not even braided I couldn’t remember the last ti robe
She did not look, or speak, or even flinch as we entered
Her too-thin ar still encircled her finger
Her skin was so pale it looked like fresh snow in the harsh light
I realized then that the color of death, of sorrohite
The lack of color Of vibrancy