Rafael's Point of View
The word casualties hits like a punch to the gut.
I sit back in my chair, my arms tightening across my chest, but my eyes do not leave Alec. He looks wrecked, his hands will not stay still, his breathing is uneven, but his voice, the way he spits the word war, there is fire there.
Around the table, I see the news on everyone differently.
Octavia leans forward, her face soft with sympathy, her voice barely above a whisper as she tells him she is sorry. I can see the way she aches for him, she always carries other people’s pain like it is her own. Something twists in my chest at that.
Kai sits rigid, like he is holding himself back. His jaw ticks, and I know what is going on in his head. He wants to do something, anything, but he is still recovering, still weaker
