Page 18 of Feathers and Thorns

“Where is she?” he asked firmly.

Her eyes widened. “Oh, um … I’m sorry to tell you this?—”

“Tell me what?” he growled, gripping her shoulders harder than necessary.

“I’m sorry, but Soren is gone. She left yesterday.”

“I was out for over a day?” he snapped, his eyes burning with anger.

“I’m so sorry, Rook. Evelyn and I tried everything, but the kestrel’s talons were ridden with poison, and with your injuries … the infection was immediate. It took a whole night just to get the fever down.”

“And Soren?” He tried to hide the worry in his voice as he released her shoulders.

“A few stitches, but nothing major. They left at first light. You should know she did not leave your side until you stabilized. She gave Evie this and said to tell you she was sorry,” she finished, handing him a crumpled piece of parchment.

He snatched it out of her hands, turning away from her, pausing before he walked away. “Thank you,” he said, some of the anger leaving his voice, “for mending me.”

“We would do it again. When you are ready, we will redress that for you,” she said, eyeing the injury.

Rook nodded, and she left.

When she was a safe distance away, he turned back toward the sitting room and slowly lowered himself onto the sofa so as to not anger his body more. He sat in the dim light, breathing rapidly, and unfolded the parchment.

Wings flutter in a cage

Anger building into rage

Enter the cunning beast

Control relinquished, released

Dark secrets are hidden away

Her own heart did betray

A touch, a spark, a skipping beat

A hateful kiss

Burning with heat

A sin of lust, nothing more

A warm feeling

That did not exist before

He roared so loud that the chandelier above him shook. This was her goodbye?

He threw a nearby whiskey glass against the wall, shattering it, groaning as the movement put a strain on his injured stomach.

She was gone.

He hunched over, holding his side as he stalked back to his room and slammed the door.

And she was not coming back.

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