‘I believe this is the part you let her go, Torin.’I remarked in his mind so only he could hear.
‘Do I have to? She smells so good,’Torin responded back as he tugged slightly so that she had no choice but to take a step closer, which was the opposite of what I was trying to achieve here. But it was like he couldn’t help himself, making me question whether I should be concerned.
‘You do,’ I replied, more as an order than a suggestion, and released a sigh.
‘Pity’. He muttered back before releasing her hand, giving her the chance to step back. Something she did, now rubbing her hand as if she still felt the connection Torin had made when caressing her skin. I wondered if he had ‘marked her’, leaving her with a sliver of his essence on purpose so that she would think of him. It was part of his gift after all, making me wonder if the poor girl would now be haunted by dreams of him too.
Fuck me, but if he had, then shit was about to get even more complicated, as I didn’t know how Eliza would feel about something like that. Speaking of protecting those you love…
“I don’t suppose you would tell me if you’ve seen your sister recently,” I said, drawing her attention back to me as her posture shifted, her arms folding across her chest in quiet defence.
“Last I heard, she’s been busy working on a campaign for you.”
“I’m going to be honest with you,” I replied evenly before continuing to say,
“I’m concerned.” That was enough, as her arms dropped immediately.
“Why… where is she… has she gone missing?”
“She has,” I stated, softening my words, also being direct enough that she would understand my urgency. I watched as she moved quickly toward the counter, reaching for her phone, checking it with growing unease.
“She hasn’t messaged me… Goddess…” She frowned, muttering the same prayer Eliza often would. Then she looked back at me and added,
“She would have called me.”
“Yes, perhaps,” I said, my tone measured,
“But if she hasn’t reached out to you, it may be because she thinks she is protecting you.” Her eyes widened at this before asking fearfully,
“…Would she need to protect me?” A small smirk touched my lips before I told her honestly,
“Not from me.”
“She’s not here,” she said after another moment, as if she expected me to ransack the place in case she was hiding. Unfortunately, I knew as soon as I walked in here that she wasn’t here, just as her sister claimed. I could smell it in the air, knowing what remained of her certainly wasn’t fresh.
“No, I can see that.”
I reached into my pocket, then pulled out a card and offered it to her.
“If she contacts you, you will tell her to reach me immediately. There are things she needs to know.” She took it, distracted, her attention already shifting elsewhere.
But mine did not.
Because something behind her had caught my attention. My gaze narrowed slightly, focusing on the book resting nearby, worn, old, and marked with a symbol I now recognised. One that meant safety. But it wasn’t what it represented that interested me. No… it was the design. Or should I say the very edge, as it was the same one etched into the fragment still tucked inside my jeans pocket.
The connection settled instantly.
“Thank you for your time,” I said abruptly, already turning away before she could question the shift. My focus no longer on the conversation but back to my reason for being here.
I moved toward the door without hesitation, expecting Torin to follow, only to realise a second later that he had not.
“Torin.”
My voice was enough.
He appeared beside me moments later, though not without first claiming her hand once more. Then he lifted it to his lips in a gesture far too gentlemanly than I was used to seeing on him.
“Until next time,” he murmured, leaving her flushed as he finally released her.
