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“I didn't feel her,” I whispered.

“I suspected as much,” she replied. “Which is why I came.”

I could feel Iris’s eyes on me, but I couldn’t meet her gaze. How could I begin to explain?

“It happened a few days ago,” Xira continued. “Just like you warned, she was caught sneaking into the borders of other realms.”

“The royals?” I asked, but she shook her head.

“I’m not sure,” she whispered. “We were due to meet at the edges of this realm. She never missed a meeting before. I waited for three days and nothing.”

A light burst of hope sprouted in me.

“You don't know, though,” I said quickly. “I would have felt her. She would have joined the others?—”

“You and I both know demon souls do not always join the shadow.”

She was right. I knew she was right, but I didn't want to believe her. I couldn’t; something in me refused to believe that Allura, the brightest, happiest of us all, was no longer with us.

“Thank you for telling me,” I said. “Feel free to stay here as long as you'd like.”

She nodded and stood.

“I’ll leave you two, I'm sure your human pet has a lot of questions.”

I nodded at her words but didn't say anything as she got up and left. I didn’t have it in me to watch her. I was stuck there, frozen and disbelieving.

Iris looked at me and then stood slowly. My shadows tightened around her as she came closer. She stopped right in front of me, her chest brushing mine.

I looked down at her as she looked up at me, and then she stood on her tiptoes, wrapping her arms around my shoulders.

I froze, unsure what to do. My shadows were still wrapped around her, but my hands twitched. My first instinct was to touch her. My arms were begging me to wrap around her like she was wrapped around me.

Why? I wanted to ask, but I couldn't force it out through my tightened throat.

Her hand came up to run gentle strokes along my hair.

“Let me help you,” she whispered, holding me tighter. “Just let me help you, okay?”

I could do nothing but nod.

Iris

“Will you tell me?” I asked in a low voice, afraid if I spoke too loud, I might scare her.

She froze for a moment before relaxing. “About what?”

“Why Xira is so sad,” I said. “It feels like loss, and if I’m right, you’re feeling it too.”

“Yes. We may have lost someone very important to us,” she replied after a moment, her tone tight.

I would have to be careful about this topic.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I can see how much it hurts.”

“She was…” Yien paused for a while, but I didn’t say anything. “My sister. Allura. I… can’t say much.”

My heart broke for Yien. A sister? No wonder they were both so sad. I wanted to help. To talk it out. But I could feel I was pushing too hard.