Amaranthine

Chapter 52

Katelina sagged against Jorick, her fury spent. He waited, as if to make sure she wasn't going to hit him, then slid his arms around her again.

"I'm sorry," he whispered into her hair. "I'm sorry."

Her voice shook. "I know. It's all right. It wasn't really your fault. I just-" she broke off, unsure what she wanted to say. "I just need to- I don't know." She took a ragged breath. "I don't know what I need . . . to forget."

"Nothing is ever forgotten," Jorick whispered. "You only quit thinking about it."

"Then I need to quit thinking about it," she murmured. She pulled back and looked at Jorick hopefully. "You said you had influence. Can you-"

"No," he cut her off. "I can't make it go away. I can hold it at bay, but I can't erase it."

She sagged against him and buried her face against