Shadowed Bonds: The Sunspear Series Book Three by Lavender Elizabeth

Author:Lavender, Elizabeth
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-10-22T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Two

Alika watched Angelina with the others, wondering who she saw. Her initial comments pointed to two possibilities, but it didn't all fit. From her face and the fury at the beginning, a terrifying storm brewed, threatening to unleash before their eyes. Suddenly, it stopped, and briefly relief poured through him, but what replaced it was much worse in a sense. Now, he feared to see the eyes that met him.

She stopped crying, and pulled away from Dante to stare out in front of her. Did she see them at all? Her eyes were vacant and emotionless, like she felt. She heard herself speak, but didn't comprehend their source. "I'm useless. Done. Nothing to offer... to give. There's nothing left in me."

Dante didn't know what hurt worse, her words or the look in her eyes. She pulled away, and her eyes refused to turn back to him. Yet he could see them. They were a million miles away. The faraway stare from a vision seemed comforting, compared to the emptiness laying there now. Her desolation-filled eyes were only matched by the hopelessness of her words.

Alika, too, watched his fear confirmed. Gone from her eyes was the fire of old, as though the life was snatched from her. The encounter overwhelmed all her inner resources, leaving her imprisoned behind bars of fear and pain. How long before she found her way back? She shifted, and he knew. His next action pained him, but he couldn't let her.

"I can't anymore. I need to go to the ship to..." She didn't bother finishing, as she moved to get up, but two people stopped her.

"Not this time, my child." Alika shook his head, and his hand stayed her movement.

Dante wrapped his arm around her waist. "He's right."

She stared at Alika. "Please, I can't stay here to ... Don't make me. I must do this on my own as I always ..." her voice broke.

"You trust me completely. Your words only yesterday, child. Trust me in this. It's time you stopped running away. You'll stay, and do this."

Dante clasped one of her hands in his. "Yes, you're not alone, my Angelina. I meant what I said. I won't let you go."

Her eyes continued pleading with Alika. He held her gaze, his eyes filled with grief. He understood what he asked of her, yet he wouldn't relent, and spoke again in the same soothing tone, "Whenever you're ready, child."

Alika clearly intended on making her do this here. A part of her wondered what he'd do, if she tore out of his and Dante's grasp and stormed out. Unfortunately, that took another emotion. Something long gone from her, so she didn't possess the energy or drive to carry it out. "You recall how long this takes many times."

"I do."

"You believe there's time to waste, for me to become ... this?"

Alika winced at her comment. The one touch of emotion in her voice, and it resonated disgust at the end. "We'll take the time. It's not wasted. Everyone in this room cares for you, and don't speak of yourself like that, child.

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