Page 156 of To Ashes and Dust
“She barely touched her food,” Zephyr said, pulling me from my thoughts of Cassie.
“She’s been struggling with her appetite lately. Sometimes she’s nauseous, sometimes she just isn’t hungry. The medication’s messing with her.” I lifted my gaze to Zephyr, and I saw it there in his eyes, that same flicker of fear I held. I looked away, the sight too much to bear.
“Vincent said you visited the Fates.”
“And they were no fucking help,” I said, irritation building in my chest at the thought of the three females who spoke of life like it was nothing more than threads laid out before them. I should’ve known they’d be of no use. “I don’t know what else to do.”
I couldn’t bring myself to mention the nonsense the Fates had spoken amongst themselves, and they’d refused to speak more on Aurelia. I didn’t want to freak Lydia out, so I’d kept that information to myself these past few weeks.
My thoughts lingered on the vague riddles they’d spoken. They couldn’t have meant Cassie. I refused to give into the thought that if I lost her...
She’d be gone for good.
“She’s....” Zephyr started, but he couldn’t seem to finish the sentence. “There’s really no way to save her, is there?”
“Unless we can curry favor with a god.” A sigh slipped through my lips as I prepared to admit defeat. “No.”
Zephyr’s sorrow filled my lungs, like the scent of freshly fallen rain. His eyes fell to the pavement as we approached the cars. “We’ve only just found her...”
It was a painful truth to swallow. I’d hoped that, despite her mortal form, we’d at least get to experience some time together. Gods dammit, this wasn’t fair. Had we not sacrificed enough?
“Do you think Selene would give her a warrior’s send off? Allow her a place in Moira’s Rest even though she’s mortal?”
I stopped breathing as the words left Zephyr’s lips, and I turned to look at him. “I can’t just... give up—”
“I don’t want to either, Damien, but...”
He was right. I didn’t want to admit it, but he was. I shouldn’t waste what precious time I had left with her searching. I needed to be at her side.
“I’m passing responsibilities to James.”
Zephyr frowned.
“I’m taking some time off, spend as much of it with her as possible before...” I couldn’t finish the sentence, the pain seeping deep into me at the thought of losing her again.
Zephyr nodded. “Calista and I were talking about moving the mating ceremony up. I want her to be there if she has the energy.”
“I don’t think she’d miss it, even if she didn’t,” I said with a smile. “She’d fight all odds to make sure she was there to see it. I’ll get a wheelchair for her if I have to.”
Zephyr smiled, chuckling lightly, but it faded.
“At the end of the week I’ll be caught up enough to pass the few remaining projects to you and James, if you’re okay with that.”
Zephyr nodded. “I’ll see that everything’s taken care of. If there’s any way I can help beyond that, let me know.”
“I will.”
There was nothing more he could do, nothing any of them could do. I’d spend whatever time she had left at her side, soak up her light, etch every detail of her into my mind—
And end myself before her heart gave out.
57
CASSIE
Damien stood before me, his eyes nearly glowing as rays of moonlight glinted down on us. He smiled warmly at me, his hands holding mine tightly as we stood on the dais surrounded by our friends, our family.
Anticipation built within me as Damien’s lips parted to say the words I wanted so desperately to hear.
