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Luc only looked at me, his eyes soft.
“You were the first friend I made on that ship,” I continued. “And maybe even the first friend I ever had, if we’re both from this eternal world. How can I lose you?”
He raised his hand to my face, brushing a thumb against my cheek. With a sigh he pulled me in, wrapping me in both hisarms and his wings. He leaned his head on top of mine and held me tight.
“Forgive me, little dove,” he whispered. “I was so used to being left behind that I didn’t even realize you cared about me as much as you did.”
I laughed. “You idiot. You said you could see every desire I ever had. You couldn’t see my desire to keep you with me?”
His arms tightened around me, and he held me for a few moments longer before looking into my eyes. I let him, wanting him to see how much he meant to me. When he smiled, I could tell that he found the answer he was looking for.
“Are you sure you’re all right?” Luc asked.
I stiffened, remembering Jacques asking me the same exact question right after Henrik’s demon had attacked me.
Please…save me…
“Esmeralda?” Luc asked. “What is it?”
I winced, the same pain coming to my shoulder blades again. It was now pulsating, throbbing for relief.
“The longer I’m here,” I said, “the more I feel my wings.”
“Youfeelthem? What do you mean?”
“My skin knows that something else belongs there. The longer I’m here, the more it hurts.”
Luc rubbed my back as if it could soothe it. Looking at his wings, I knew that it wouldn’t.
“Jacques said I was too pure,” I said. “That I can’t even see evil anymore. Is it because I don’t have my wings that my perspective is so…limited?”
Luc seemed lost in thought for a moment then eventually nodded. “From the way you’ve been purified, you can only see good. It’s not a terrible thing, but it’s limiting. Same with anyone who can only see evil.”
“Do humans like that exist?”
“All kinds of humans exist. That’s only two of them.”
Luc’s wings fluttered, and I couldn’t help but reach out and touch them. Their feathers were as soft as cat’s fur and as delicate as cotton candy. I couldn’t help but run my fingers through his feathers, watching them gracefully catch in the breeze.
“Esmeralda?” Luc asked.
“I think I know what I want, Luc,” I said, meeting his concerned gaze. “There’s no point in pretending. I want my wings.”
CHAPTER 38—GONE
It was the third day.
Adrian and the others were supposed to be departing from the Den of Sirens for good. I hadn’t spoken to him in this entire time, Jacques keeping his promise of keeping us separated. But it hadn’t stopped me from worrying about Adrian. How was he? How heavy was his heart? How did he feel about leaving Henrik behind?
And…would I ever see him again?
I hadn’t seen or even asked about Henrik since the day I met his demon. I didn’t know what questions to ask Jacques, and I didn’t know if I could even be any help.
Not in this form, anyway.
I took a deep breath. I knew my decision. I had been avoiding the topic since I had started staying in Jacques’s room. Jacques had either been physically absent—watching over the other Judges and Henrik—or he had been emotionally absent, lost in his own thoughts as night fell.
But now it was time to tell him.
