She stayed like that for a while and rested her head on her arms.
Suddenly, a crash sounded from beside her, making her jerk her head up.
A set of bronze scales that had fallen to the floor.
Her eyes travelled from the bronze scales that had fallen off the shelf to the tall figure standing in the doorway. Her eyes narrowed.
Caspian offered an apologetic look her way and muttered,“Váless.”cocooning the scales in black fire and setting them gently back on the shelf.
Finally, he turned his eyes to her, standing stock still in the doorway.
His eyes were green and filled with sympathy, but she didn’t care.
“Elizabeth…”
She looked at him, grief etched on her features.
“You ruined everything.”
Chapter 49
Aftermath
Caspian looked at her in shock.
“Elizabeth, I—”
“You ruined everything. I don’t know how, and I don’t know why, but don’t think for a second that this isn’t somehow connected to me coming to live with you.” Even as she said the words, a part of her wanted to collapse in his arms. The part that was exhausted from holding herself together all day and just wanted to be held, and have someone kiss her forehead, and comfort her. But anger felt safer than grief, and she held onto it like armour.
The idea that he had somehow caused this made her hate herself for ever trusting him.
Her mouth formed a grim line.
“I swear to Lucifer that I had nothing to do with this.” He raised his hands, shocked.
“I do not want to hear it. I don’t want to hear any excuses. Not now. Not from you.” She put her head in her arms against her father’s desk, looking determinedly away from him.
“Elizabeth...” he tried again.
She stared resolutely in the other direction.
“Elizabeth, talk to me...” His voice cracked. “You’re breaking my heart.”
“You don’t have a heart.” Her words were cold as ice.
She rose, walking to the window, unable to face him.
“Please?”
“I don’t want to talk to you.”
“And you don’t have to,” he said, his tone consoling. She flicked her eyes to him. He had a hand raised in midair, as if he was debating putting it on her shoulder. Seeing her looking, he did, placing it on her shoulder in what she assumed was meant to be a comforting gesture.
The warmth of his hand almost undid her. For a split second, she wanted to lean into his touch, let him absorb some of the crushing weight on her shoulders. Instead, she shrugged off his hand and stepped out of reach.
She couldn’t afford his comfort. Not when he was the reason she needed it.
She swallowed, her heart hurting. She had killed them as surely as he had. Either by his hand, or one of his enemies, he was the reason they were—dead.
