Quinn’s eyes snagged on Wren.
“Is she…”
August nodded.
“She’s back.”
Quinn let out a breath of relief. She walked toward Wren, approaching her tentatively. A tense moment of silence stretched between them as Wren fought to face Quinn, her own eyes brimming with regret.
“I’m…I’m sorry.” Wren let out a choked cry. “I’m so fucking sorry.” Instantly, Wren’s knees buckled and Quinn caught her in her arms, brushing Wren’s hair away from her face.
“It wasn’t you,” Quinn whispered, voice wavering. “It wasn’t your fault.”
Wren shuddered. She wheezed in strangled breaths.
“I—I killed him.”
Quinn let out a soft, broken laugh.
“He was already dead.”
Wren lifted her eyes to meet Quinn.
“I ruined him,” she whispered. “I destroyed him. I turned him into amonster. I—”
“Wren.” Quinn placed her hands delicately upon Wren’s face. The moment Quinn’s hands made contact, Wren flinched, as if Quinn’s tenderness—herforgiveness—pained her more than any physical wound ever could. The next words Quinn spoke were slow and spaced out, each word emphasized carefully. “It. Wasn’t.You.”
Wren let out a broken sigh. She gave a weak nod of her head, mustering a small smile. When she spoke next, her voice came out thready and wrong.
“He deserved…so much better.”
Quinn smiled, but her lip quivered as she fought the tears building behind her eyes. “That we can agree on.” She turned to face August. “Do we know how this happened?”
August didn’t need her to clarify. It was obvious what she was referring to.
He shook his head.
“The shadows just…vanished.”
“The ring,” Wren supplied weakly. “Maybe…maybe the others found a way to destroy it.”
Next to them, Edith’s muffled scream echoed behind the gauzy fabric of the curtain wrapped tightly around her mouth. Quinn stared down at her with a pinch of annoyance.
“Well, I suppose we should do something about her. I’m sure the Resistance will want a chat.” Quinn’s gaze snaked over to Wren, brows furrowing in concern. “Though I highly advise you to stay inside. She’s in no condition to fight.”
“We can’t.” August took Wren gently from Quinn’s arms, scooping her into his own. Instantly, Wren lost consciousness, eyesfluttering again as she fought the exhaustion pulling her under. “We have to go find a healer. She isn’t going to make it if we don’t find someone who can help.”
Quinn’s face hardened under a wave of determination.
“Then go. I can take care of this.”
Wren looked up at Quinn, eyes struggling to stay open.
“Thank you…” she whispered. “For everything.”
Quinn smiled.
“Just doing my job.”
