Page 159 of Heir of the Beast

Laura pulls me into a carriage that’s not occupied yet. We both get in and shut the door, leaving us in the moonlit darkness. “Tarren just left me.”

I swallow, feeling sick. “And?”

She begins again, “Apollo was not himself last night, according to Tarren. He got trashed and told Tarren everything. Tarren came to my room demanding answers, super pissed.”

She continues, “I don’t think Apollo has fully healed yet. Something is wrong.”

“From the poison?”

Of course, from the poison. Something that I caused.

Laura sniffs. “Yes, the recovery process is not overnight.”

“I don’t understand.”

Laura is not making sense. She’d better start making fucking sense before I freak out.

I take a breath, ordering myself to calm down.

“Apollo was extremely hurt and angry last night and till the wee hours of the morning, I think. Tarren is very concerned that he is not thinking clearly.”

I look down to my hands fisted into my cloak.

“He’s not coming,” I whisper.

The realization hits me like a ton of bricks. Laura stares at me, then looks out the window, at a loss for words.

“He’s not coming,” I say, louder.

I can see tears stream down her face. “I had to tell Tarren goodbye.” She takes an intake of air. “It killed me, Viola.” Her voice is broken.

“Apollo. Can Tarren help?”

She looks at me and shrugs. “Tarren did say Apollo ~is ~madly in love with you, and that’s why his brain is having a hard time processing this. Well, because of what mental state he was in.

“So, when he became drunk, it’s like his brain short-circuited.”

“We have to go back, Laura,” I say in a panic. “When Apollo realizes what he has done, he will never forgive himself.”

“He could still show up,” she offers with a small smile.

I shake my head. “When Apollo gets like this, he is determined.”

“He still can show up.”

“We have to go back.” My voice catches and breaks. “This can’t be the end.”

~Don’t let this be the end.~

Tears stream down my face.

“We can’t go back.”

“Are you sure?”

Laura wipes her face and nods. “I already tried.”

Our carriage stops.

---