Page 155 of To Ashes and Dust
I loved these sprites. They were so special, and I wondered just how they came to be here. How long had they resided in Selene’s temple? Did they age? Would they exist as long as this ancient library would?
Their tiny feet patted along the floor as they led me down the aisle of shelves to a lone bench, others bringing pillows and piling them up. Had they communicated with each other that they were bringing me to this bench?
“Thank you so much. It looks super comfortable,” I said, setting Moira’s book down on the table. I settled into the cushions, pulling my feet up to tuck them under my legs as I laid the book out on my lap.
One of the sprites climbed onto the seat next to me, placing its tiny claws against my arm as it gazed down at the book.
“Are you going to help me?”
The creature nodded eagerly, and the others gathered at my feet, some standing, some sitting. Their excitement was infectious, but I didn’t know what they were waiting for.
I drew a deep breath, turning the cover over to open the book, the pages worn and stained with age. As my eyes fell on the intricate inscriptions, the text took form in my mind. My jaw dropped as I read the text that had once made no sense.
“Lucia Archonis. Queen of the Immortals. 1435-1781.” Wow. I’d lived over three hundred years. I lingered on that thought, on how amazing it would have been to be at Damien’s side so long.
My vision rippled, and I blinked back tears, my chest growing heavy as I struggled to pull myself back. We wouldn’t get that time now, but I’d return—
And we’d get that time together in the next life.
56
DAMIEN
“Does she always look as tired as she did this morning?”
Zephyr’s question caught me off guard as we stepped out of the building we’d been looking over. It was to become the new complex, seven stories of everything we’d need. It was run down, and it would take a lot of work to repair and update, but I knew once it was finished, it would be perfect.
“Yeah,” I said, hating the admission. “She’s been sleeping a lot more lately, nodding off when I’m not looking. She pretends she’s not, that she’s awake but...”
I knew the truth she was trying to hide, the truth I feared. Her body was shutting down, struggling to maintain itself. She’d tried to keep the brunt of what she was dealing with from me just this morning.
Cassie groaned as she pushed herself up from the bed. I stiffened at the sound; it wasn’t a sleeping groan, like the sweet ones she made when she stretched. This groan was discomfort, pain. I stepped out of the closet, heading toward her side of the bed as she pulled her feet to the edge, lowering them to the floor.
Her feet were swollen, the tendons and veins, normally visible, were hidden beneath inflamed tissue and fluid.
“I’ll be fine, mea sol. It’s not that bad,” she said with a forced smile. Gods, she was a terrible liar. She tried to push herself up, but the moment she put weight on her swollen feet she winced.
I lifted my hands, stopping her from pushing herself farther. “Let me help, mea luna. Tell me what you need.”
Her eyes lifted to me, and for a moment I thought she might deny the help, but she caved. A somber smile tugged at her lips. “I need to take my morning meds. Can you get them off the bathroom vanity for me?”
I nodded, heading for the bathroom to get her medicine.
“A glass of water too, please,” she called from the room. I grabbed the bottles and poured a glass of water.
“Here you go,” I said as I returned to her, setting them on her nightstand.
“Thank you,” she breathed, reaching for the bottles. She dropped a mix of tablets in her hand and tossed them back before downing them with the water.
“The others won’t be here for another thirty minutes. I can call them. We can do breakfast another day if it’s too much—”
“No, it’s okay. I just... I just need to work out the stiffness,” she grimaced, pushing herself up. I took hold of her hand, my other on her lower back as I helped her stabilize on her tender feet. “I miss them. I want to see them.”
I swallowed, wishing I could take her discomfort away.
“I’m sorry you have to see me like this, mea sol.”
It hurt to hear her say those words. “There’s nothing to apologize for. I will be here at your side, healthy or ill. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
