of rightness, of finally having found their other half.
I lower my gaze and try to stomp down my jealousy, but it’s hard. I’m happy for my friends, truly I am, but it is difficult to be torn so completely in half when they’re all whole.
Zahra’s hand falls upon my arm. I look up, surprised. “I wanted to say I’m sorry.”
“For what?” I’m pretty sure I’ve never heard her use those exact words before. Certainly never with me.
She shifts her weight and bites on her lower lip, as if unsure if she should say anything. “We all know how hard this past year has been for you, and even though you don’t think it, I do kinda like you.”
“Huh.” I purse my lips and tilt my head to the side, confused.
She laughs and swats at my arm. “I’m trying to be serious here.”
“I know. That’s what’s freaking me out.”
Zahra shakes her head and removes her hand from my arm. Although her touch isn’t bad, per se, it is odd. What has gotten into her?
“Look, I just want to say that I know how hard it’s been since Bastien left. And then with everything going on with Eamon…”
I flinch. “How do you know about that?”
Zahra rolls her eyes as if it’s the most obvious answer on the planet. “Everyone knows, Illyria. He’s the easiest guy in the world to read and you’re… moodier than normal.”
“Gee. Thanks.” I step back and lean against the wall. “If this is meant to be a pep talk, it’s really starting to take a dive in the wrong direction.”
“I’m just saying you aren’t alone, okay.” I find Zahra’s mounting discomposure to be oddly comforting.
I swat at a fly buzzing through the room, wishing more than once today that I had something other than a shoe to swat at it. I nearly grabbed one of Aminah’s dusty books but thought better of it. She’d probably be hurt if she ever turned it over to find insect guts plastered to the cover.
“Thanks… I think.” If someone had told me this morning that I’d be having this heart-to-heart moment with Zahra, I would’ve told them where to shove their lies, but here it is, and I honestly don’t have any clue how to react.
Zahra clears her throat and winds her arm through mine, drawing me out into the hallway. I can’t help but notice how the two guards, who hardly look old enough to be shaving, straighten as she smiles at them. Oh, please!
Her heels clack against the polished floor as we pass by closed doors on either side of us. The rooms are vacant, per Kyan’s orders, and not just during my two-week imprisonment. Permanently. Aminah’s boyfriend Toren went to great lengths to remind Kyan of what I’m capable of when I’m high on emotions. I guess he thought giving Eamon and me some space to explore would be a good thing. That, of course, never happened.
The entire three-story building is all mine. When I first moved in, I would wander the empty halls at night. Aminah was worried about the effect this would have on me, but I was too lost to my own Bastien-induced fog that I found the stillness of the building comforting. Once I came out of that comma, I began to realize just how painfully alone I really was.
Kyan and Zahra took up residence in the Shard, one level below the command center, so Kyan could be found at a moment’s notice. Zahra was thrilled to literally be the focal point of the entire city. Aminah and Toren took up more humble accommodations in a newly renovated two-story brownstone several streets over. There has been talk of a wedding, but I don’t think anyone really needs an official announcement to declare their bond.
Eamon’s quarters are farther away, situated in the eastern quadrant of the city. He has been crucial in overseeing much of the repair work in that area and felt the need to be close by. What that translated into was that he needed space away from me.
“So what’s up?” I ask as we pass the tenth locked door. “I’ve been rotting away in that room for nearly two weeks now and
I lower my gaze and try to stomp down my jealousy, but it’s hard. I’m happy for my friends, truly I am, but it is difficult to be torn so completely in half when they’re all whole.
Zahra’s hand falls upon my arm. I look up, surprised. “I wanted to say I’m sorry.”
“For what?” I’m pretty sure I’ve never heard her use those exact words before. Certainly never with me.
She shifts her weight and bites on her lower lip, as if unsure if she should say anything. “We all know how hard this past year has been for you, and even though you don’t think it, I do kinda like you.”
“Huh.” I purse my lips and tilt my head to the side, confused.
She laughs and swats at my arm. “I’m trying to be serious here.”
“I know. That’s what’s freaking me out.”
Zahra shakes her head and removes her hand from my arm. Although her touch isn’t bad, per se, it is odd. What has gotten into her?
“Look, I just want to say that I know how hard it’s been since Bastien left. And then with everything going on with Eamon…”
I flinch. “How do you know about that?”
Zahra rolls her eyes as if it’s the most obvious answer on the planet. “Everyone knows, Illyria. He’s the easiest guy in the world to read and you’re… moodier than normal.”
“Gee. Thanks.” I step back and lean against the wall. “If this is meant to be a pep talk, it’s really starting to take a dive in the wrong direction.”
“I’m just saying you aren’t alone, okay.” I find Zahra’s mounting discomposure to be oddly comforting.
I swat at a fly buzzing through the room, wishing more than once today that I had something other than a shoe to swat at it. I nearly grabbed one of Aminah’s dusty books but thought better of it. She’d probably be hurt if she ever turned it over to find insect guts plastered to the cover.
“Thanks… I think.” If someone had told me this morning that I’d be having this heart-to-heart moment with Zahra, I would’ve told them where to shove their lies, but here it is, and I honestly don’t have any clue how to react.
Zahra clears her throat and winds her arm through mine, drawing me out into the hallway. I can’t help but notice how the two guards, who hardly look old enough to be shaving, straighten as she smiles at them. Oh, please!
Her heels clack against the polished floor as we pass by closed doors on either side of us. The rooms are vacant, per Kyan’s orders, and not just during my two-week imprisonment. Permanently. Aminah’s boyfriend Toren went to great lengths to remind Kyan of what I’m capable of when I’m high on emotions. I guess he thought giving Eamon and me some space to explore would be a good thing. That, of course, never happened.
The entire three-story building is all mine. When I first moved in, I would wander the empty halls at night. Aminah was worried about the effect this would have on me, but I was too lost to my own Bastien-induced fog that I found the stillness of the building comforting. Once I came out of that comma, I began to realize just how painfully alone I really was.
Kyan and Zahra took up residence in the Shard, one level below the command center, so Kyan could be found at a moment’s notice. Zahra was thrilled to literally be the focal point of the entire city. Aminah and Toren took up more humble accommodations in a newly renovated two-story brownstone several streets over. There has been talk of a wedding, but I don’t think anyone really needs an official announcement to declare their bond.
Eamon’s quarters are farther away, situated in the eastern quadrant of the city. He has been crucial in overseeing much of the repair work in that area and felt the need to be close by. What that translated into was that he needed space away from me.
“So what’s up?” I ask as we pass the tenth locked door. “I’ve been rotting away in that room for nearly two weeks now and
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