Chapter 360: A World Without Slade

Eden’s POV

Astrid looked away for a moment. I was still on my hands and knees, but I repositioned myself to a sitting position.

Zara was still there, in the place of grief. She needed to stay there and I understood. I couldn’t stay there though. It was more her grief than mine.

That didn’t mean it didn’t hurt though.

Her pain was still mine, in a way. Even though she wasn’t with me, I could still feel remnants of her awful, crippling pain. It still ebbed and flowed inside of me.

He was dead.

Slade had died.

I think I was in denial at first.

How could that be? How could he be gone?

Astrid said nothing. She only came around behind me and wrapped her arms around me. The torch cast shadows on the wall. The smell of herbs was still thick in the air.

How odd, I thought, as I rested my hands on Astrid’s forearms. She rested her head on my shoulder, pressing her cheek into mine. How odd that we’re sitting here, in this cave, and Slade is dead.

That was the first thought in my mind. It didn’t