Swiftcurrent Creek too late; i'm coming undone

Vaguely, he knew Arric was trying to diffuse a ticking time-bomb in the moment, but he paid little heed to it for now, his gaze searching the waters, his thoughts wandering from the voice nearby—

—until the mention she was wrong—and he barked a laugh. “Is she, though?” It was then Eshe was next to him, weaving by him, drawing him closer with her alluring scent as she fussed over him, and he felt a wash of guilt, practically drowning in it when she kissed his cheek.

“Found Silvertongue in the fucking desert when I was looking for those rogues… she was just... hurt… She was so fucking still, just laying there, just like Ibis when I found her…” Dead. When he had found his very dead mate. “I thought she was dead, and when she wasn’t, I tried to search her wounds and she…”

He faded his words, a frown upon his face. “Wren must have followed me. And the things Silvertongue said to her…” He inhaled sharply— an inhale. An exhale. “She said it was my fault. Because I know.”