DAMIEN'S POV
I landed in Seattle at noon on Wednesday.
Elara was at the gallery. I went there directly, and didn't stop at the apartment first. She was in her office and looked up when I appeared in the doorway with the expression of someone who had been holding something heavy since yesterday and was glad to put part of it down.
I crossed the room and held her.
She let me, her face against my shoulder, both arms around my back. Not crying. Just receiving something she'd needed since the phone call.
After a moment she stepped back and sat down and I sat across from her.
"Talk me through what you're feeling," I said.
"Angry. At Victoria, at my father, at Richard." She paused. "At myself for not knowing."
"You couldn't have known. That was the point."
"I know. It still feels like I
