Chapter 89

Declan:

Aster was close to hysterical when Declan returned. She sat off to the side, folding the material of the little dress she wore between her hands, staring off into the distance – although, by now he knew she wasn’t looking at nothing. The back of her dress was soaked through from her wet hair, but she barely noticed.

The two elders seemed completely unaware of just how close their elemental was to breaking. “They’re on their way,” he said, and calmly walked over to his bride.

He took her hand in his, and gave her a questioning look, hoping he could feel something from her, anything, apart from the panic that threatened to break out of her chest. Even if he knew nothing else about her, he’d still know she’d rather be anywhere else but this room. “Do we need to be here?” Declan asked.

“Of course,” Rowan said, clearly agitated, “she’s an important part of the plan.”

“I have a plan,” Aster said, and the two elders turned th