LIORA
Elira stared at me, waiting. The question still hung between us, sharp and unfair. How could she even ask that? As if I could ever hurt Darius.
“I would never hurt him,” I said.
The words sounded weak, even to me. I knew I was the one who had the gasoline. I knew how drunk I had been. My head still ached from it. But I was not that far gone. I had more sense than that.
“I didn’t think it was you,” Elira said carefully. “I just needed to be sure after what happened yesterday.”
As if I could ever forget.
She hesitated, then added, “Besides, they think they know who did it.”
“They do?”
She nodded. “There are rumors. Some shifters from Obsidian Night Pack crossed the Veil’s Edge last night.”
The words unlocked something. Like a tap turning open, memories began to drip back in.
