Page 159 of As Above, So Below

She leans against the stone banister, pitching herself to rest on her forearms. I step in beside her, letting my hands fall upon the cool stone that separates me from a two-story fall into the flowers below.

“She blames Druka for not warning about the harpies or the archdemon,” she scoffs bitterly. “Druka had no idea. Not until it was too late, at least.”

“Eve, I’m sorry.”

“Nah, don’t be.” She shrugs off my words, hiding away her pain and hurt. “I’ve never been the most devout of Celesta’s followers. How I made it to Priestess is beyond me. Cora—” Her voice trembles, and she looks down. “I blame Cora.”

She cracks the knuckles on her hands, shifting her weight. “I’m glad I got to de-wing and decapitate that fuck.” Her tone hardens. “I would have loved to sink the dagger into his chest myself, but your Sovereign King beat me to it.”

He’s notmySovereign King.

But… heisbound to me, making himminein the most demonic sense.

I sigh, unsure how to respond to Eve.

“Lilith told him about Artemise’s decision to dismiss me, and he sought me out. I was staying at The Lioness.”

She’s making it sound like days have passed.

Confused, I ask, “How long has it been?”

In my mind, everything happened last night.

“The attack happened two nights ago,” she answers, her voice quiet, barely audible over the birds in the garden.

I blink. A few times.

“Two nights ago?”

“Ves, your injuries were some of the worst I’ve ever seen.” Eve shifts, giving me an incredulous stare. “The hellfire burns alone would have been enough to kill a human—”

Her own words stop her short and she swallows hard, taking a deep breath to try again.

“The Sovereign King ferried in healers from across Erus, and the Sovereign King of Sol brought his own personal healers to attend to you,” she continues. “Keeping you alive and safe appears to be the only thing he and I agree on,” she finishes with a dry laugh.

I snap my jaw shut, not realizing I’d left it hanging.

“In other news,” she shifts again, returning her attention to the gardens and I follow her gaze, letting my eyes settle on the swaying leaves of the trees in the distance, “Druka did find information about your sister.”

“Ylara,” I breathe.

She nods. “She hasn’t been seen since the night of your escape.”

My heart wrenches and I grimace.

“Druka believes she’s been locked in obsidian.”

Guilt consumes me, and I bury my face in my hands. It’s swift and relentless, hitting me harder than a physical blow.

“He’s going to break her,” I whisper with dread.

And it will be my fault.

All of this is my fault.

“There’s nothing I can do,” I’m unable to hear my voice over the sound of my own thundering heart. “Gods, Ylara… I’m so sorry.”

Eve straightens herself, wrapping an arm around my shoulders as I focus on deep, even breaths.