My chest ached as I looked away and gave a curt nod.
He was silent for a moment. “Neither Eloana nor Delano’s family are aware?”
“We have not sent word.” What was left of Wayfair’s inner Rise came into view as we neared the crest. “Figured that was news best shared in person.”
“Agreed.” He rubbed at the stubble on his chin. “Can’t wait too long, though.”
“I know.” Gods, did I ever. Nearly three weeks had passed. Damn. That made me think of something. “Have you seen Na’Lier?”
He frowned. “Dominik?”
“Yeah, we were told he was coming to the capital but not why. He should’ve made it by now.”
“I’m sure he’s fine.”
Under normal circumstances, I would think that, too. It would take a lot to kill the eldest Elemental. But it wasn’t improbable.
“Is Netta…?” My father trailed off as Wayfair rose from the horizon, looming above the broken Rise. “Gods…”
“Yeah,” I muttered.
His gaze traveled over the destruction. A good portion of the wall lay in piles of rubble, shattered into pieces no bigger than my fist. What stood was all jagged and broken edges, one strong wind away from collapse. All that remained of the section that had held back the elms and faced the Cliffs of Sorrow was ash that had either blown away or was lost to the snow.
“Netta is inside,” I answered the question he didn’t get to finish.
“I thought the battle happened in Pensdurth.”
“It did,” I exhaled. “He was…angry.”
“And the castle?”
My gaze lifted to Wayfair. The once-ivory walls were smothered in inky black vines that glittered with the ice that encased each limb and stem. “That’s him, too.”
There was nothing more to be said as we walked through the courtyard. The ashen grass and deep grooves in the earth held my father’s attention. I didn’t pick up much from him in terms of emotion—probably because he didn’t know what to feel.
“He’s furious.” I found myself attempting to explain all of it, even though I’d done so in the letter. “I think he believes that if he had gone with Poppy to Pensdurth, none of this would’ve happened.”
“Maybe he’s right.”
My gaze cut to him. “Seriously? You know Cas. The moment Kolis looked at her in a way that was even slightly offensive, he would’ve lost his shit.”
“Perhaps.”
“That’s it? That’s all you have to say?”
He watched the ravens circling one of the turrets and then looked down. “I see Cas has graciously left the steps bare.”
I snorted. “Care to share what you really want to say?”
“I’ve said what I wanted to.” His steps were quiet while mine thudded off the stone. “And not what you don’t want to hear.”
I inhaled. “I want to hear it.”
“Maybe him losing his shit was exactly what was needed.”
I stopped at the top of the stairs, facing him. “He would’ve gotten himself killed if he’d lost his shit.”
Joining me under the alcove, my father waited for me to continue.
