Chapter 21

CHAPTER 21

TOURON

I understand why Cameron loves it up here in the observatory. There's a sense of peace. A sense of being above it all, as if the worries of the world are far below, out of reach. Up here I can stargaze and dream of Selas. Of all the things that could have been, that should have been. Memories of her saturate my being, and I can bathe in them and cry if I want to. But when I leave this room, all those feelings go in a box, which gets locked away until my next visit.

I'm hoping that in time the pain will lessen and the urge to open that box will diminish, and eventually the box will become nothing but a distant fond memory.

I settle in Orix's seat, the chair I now call my reflection seat, and look up at a sky speckled with stars. A cluster winks at me, then another, and…Wait…What is that shadow blocking them out?

A bird? Too large. No, it's a figure with wings. Wait…what…The figure drops altitude suddenly before catching itself. It's close enough now for me to make out that it's a goyle. A female and…I know that form. The dark hair and…The moon catches the figure's face, and its eyes blaze silver.

I shoot out of my seat as the figure falls, heart pounding in my throat as I race out of the room and down the stairs because it's Selas.

Selas is back!

I barrel down the stairs, almost running into Curi, who's on his way up.

"Touron, what the fuc?—"

"Selas is outside!"

I don't stop to explain, focused only on getting down this damn tower and out to her.

I hit the ground floor and slam out of the door into the night. Where is she? There!

She's shifted back to human form and lies crumpled several feet from the tower.

I run toward her, barely aware of the bootfalls running up behind me.

"Fuck!" Curi cries.

She's out cold, but when I scoop her up into my arms, she screams in agony.

"Her leg!" Curi warns. "Be careful."

I adjust my grip on her, making soothing noises as I slowly lift her.

"Touron…" She doesn't open her eyes, knowing me by scent.

Curi runs ahead to open the door as I carry her back to the tower. "I've got you." She nuzzles closer, and my heart stutters because the fact that she shifted and flew all this way means something is wrong. "You're safe now. I've got you."

And I don't care what the future holds because I'm not walking away from her again. Not until there is no choice but to do so.