Page 148 of Elysian

Cassiel casually swung the sword.

“Please,” another voice came from the side. Miriam poked her head out from the bookcase to make her way to Eliza’s side. Piper’s cage was in her arms, and she carefully set her down on one of the workstations.

“What were you both doing here?”

“I knew Al had tonics, potions, and coin here.” Eliza patted the satchel against her hip. “I thought he had fled already.”

“What do you want done with them?” Cassiel asked, hand settling on my shoulder. “I am happy to remove them.” I had no doubt what that meant, but I rebelled against the idea. Both had made decisions that I would not have, but that did not make them evil.

“Do not harm them,” I whispered, the knot in my throat refusing to let me speak more.

“Collect your things and leave the Kingdom,” Cassiel ordered.

“Yes, Your Highness, thank you.” Eliza curtsied and grabbed Miriam’s arm. She had not moved.

“I am sorry,” Miriam said.

“I know,” I croaked. When I did not say more, she turned away, swiping her eyes. “Miriam.” She whirled. “Your father is dead.” He had died by an arrow after delivering me to Vaner, but I kept that part to myself.

Tears welled, and she nodded, following Eliza’s prodding.

“Take care with the latch. It is loose,” Eliza directed.

They disappeared up the steps. I blinked to clear my vision. Every step toward Piper seemed heavy. Her black, beady eyes watched me with animal fear. I gripped the little bars on both sides. As I lifted the cage, the door swung open, and she exploded free.

“Piper!” My cry stuck in my throat. The ferret dashed up the staircase, fleeing in panic. Cassiel moved toward her.

“No.” I caught his arm, struggling to breathe. “Let her be.”

I forced the words out, knowing it was right. I said it despite the grief clamping on my heart. That empty spot in my breastbone would remain empty. Living in the cage was not fair to her.

Lucinda had attempted to give me time to run while Vaner attacked. And I had not run—not fast enough, not soon enough. Her panther watched her fall, and died with her. If any small mercy remained in this ruined realm, it was that the beast had gone with its person, and had not been left to grieve. Piper was gone, not her body, but her essence, and it would be cruel to trap what remained.

Cassiel looked down at me and clasped my cheek, his sadness matching mine.

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

Wedding

We stood before the village clergyman.

“May the Saints bless this union.” He said the final line of the wedding ceremony. We took each other’s hands, and the clergyman bound a white braided rope around our wrists. A visual representation of our union that must not be removed until we completed the first night of consummation.

Cassiel wore black trousers made of linen and an ivory tunic. I wore black. Not the ivory of Sycarian brides. For Piper. For Lucinda. For everyone I carried with me now.

As many present knew, our joining did not go in the proper order. Cassiel took my hand and turned with me to face the onlookers. People that I had met on my journey. Only those I loved, and everyone Cassiel tolerated for me, stood clapping.

Tears filled my eyes. The one creature I had desperately wanted here could not be.

Piper would have loved this. She would not have believed how far we had come. I closed my eyes, hoping that wherever she continued to be, she knew how I missed her.

And Lucinda—she would have stood at the back of the Hall with her arms crossed, sneering at the ceremony, and I would have loved her for it. She would have muttered under her breath and pretended she had not come for me. But she had come for me. All the way to the end.

I opened my eyes before the tears fell.

The clapping tapered off, and guests began to shuffle out of the seats to line themselves up to greet us with well wishes. I exchanged pleasantries with all: friends, elders, and even staff. The last person in the line stunned me.

“Miriam?”