her emotional freefall. Then they walked. Ari didn’t pay much attention to the route, but along the way they stopped at Yana’s home to get Hernando. Near dawn, Andreas left her outside Claris’s door. Ari hugged her best friend, handed her the cat, and fell into an exhausted sleep.
* * *
Yana’s cleansed body was wrapped in layers of white lace. Following wood nymph tradition, the clan carried her through the woods to a site chosen in secret and prepared during the night. Claris and Ari were among a small band that walked with the family. They were barefoot, and the ground under Ari’s toes was hard and cool. A young wood nymph male followed the procession sweeping a branch of pine needles across the ground to obliterate their passing; he’d also follow them out. Claris cried softly, but Ari’s eyes were dry. She’d run out of tears, leaving only an overwhelming emptiness. The family sang quietly in an ancient tongue, rejoicing for the time they had her spirit with them, grieving now that she was gone.
When the procession reached the gravesite, each mourner dropped white flower petals into the grave and the body was lowered. As it disappeared from view, Ari had a sudden urge to snatch her back. Then the moment was gone, and more petals dropped into the grave. The nymphs’ song was different now, comforting, like a mother’s lullaby to a sleeping child.
The first dirt was spread by Yana’s father, the closest relative. The others followed his lead. The smell of moist earth and the fragrance of the lilies drifted around Ari as the dirt trickled through her fingers. Yana’s clan finished covering the grave. Once the service was complete, branches, dried leaves and pine needles were scattered over the site until the new grave was invisible. The nymphs would not visit again. They had returned Yana to the woods.
* * *
Ari spent two days holed up in her apartment, alone in her grief and with her guilt. Guilt that she hadn’t come home sooner that day, that she hadn’t been there when Yana needed her. That she hadn’t saved her friend—or died instead.
Claris and Brando tried to talk with her; Ryan left a message each day. She didn’t answer them. She knew her friends were worried, but she didn’t have the strength to reassure them. Andreas, an unexpected and curious source of comfort that first night, was giving her space. He had good instincts.
On the third day, Ari went back to work. She wasn’t over the loss. She might never put it behind her, but she was ready to hunt down Yana’s killers.
Chapter Twenty-Four
The bell jingled over the shop door, and Ari paused in the doorway. Claris let out a squeal, rushing to grab her in a tight hug.
“I am so glad to see you. Coffee’s made,” Claris said, releasing her hold and searching Ari’s drawn face.
“How’s the cat?”
“He’s adjusting, but he misses her. He sits in the greenhouse and watches the birds from the kitchen window. He doesn’t come up front much.”
Ari ducked into the back room. Claris frowned, watching her, but Ari was glad her friend didn’t follow. Hernando lay curled in the sunny window. He lifted his head, considered Ari with listless eyes, then tucked his head back under his tail. She patted his head.
“Buck up, old fellow. We’ll make it.”
When Ari carried two mugs of coffee into the shop, Claris was helping a customer. Ari pulled up a stool and looked around, sniffed the fragrant herbs. It was all so familiar. She’d been here often enough; it was like a second home. Yet today it felt different. Then again, maybe it was Ari that was different.
The sound of the front door closing as the customer left nudged her attention, and Ari shifted her gaze to Claris. The puckered brow said her best friend was still worried.
“How are you…really?” Claris asked, perching on another of the tall stools behind the counter.
Ari handed her a mug of coffee. “I’m angry.” Her voice was flat, emotionless.
“You don’t sound angry.”
“When I’m not angry, I don’t feel anything.”
“It’s part of the process, I suppose. My mood’s all over the place. Sometimes I feel fine for a while, then I remember. I know we’ll get better.”
“I don’t want to get better. That’s the problem.” Ari didn’t bother to hide the confusion she felt. “I want to stay angry. Need the anger. I’m going to find them and kill them.” Ari looked at her friend’s shocked face. “Does that