Page 55 of Spears and Shadows (Defenders of the Light)
Nora sunkdown on the stairs in front of the museum and pulled Thad’s suit jacket more tightly around her shoulders as she watched the ambulance carrying Leo’s lifeless body drive away. She couldn’t feel her face, but she wasn’t sure if it was from the cold or from whatever drug Leo had slipped into her drink. She was only alone for a few seconds before a warm body appeared next to her and an arm was draped around her. Nora let her head fall to Odelle’s shoulder and tried to let the smell of roses comfort her.
“I’m sorry they didn’t get to announce your promotion,” Odelle murmured, smoothing her hand over Nora’s hair, which had fallen halfway out of its elegant twist.
“I think that’s the least of my worries at this point,” Nora sniffed. “They’ll probably just email me about it.”
Odelle nodded against her head, and silence fell for a few moments as Odelle continued to stroke Nora’s hair.
“It’s all my fault,” Nora whispered.
“It’s not your fault that a man had too much to drink and fell down the stairs after trying to drug you,” Odelle countered, but Nora knew the truth.
She had smelled the smoke of the Shadows in that stairwell, and she knew they were there for her. Leo had just gotten in their way.
Nora swallowed. “Odelle, can we…talk sometime? Not tonight—but soon?”
“Of course. I’m free on Thursday. Want to come over for dinner? I’ll make borscht.”
Nora nodded silently into Odelle’s shoulder. Thad was right; she could no longer carry this burden alone. Odelle would help her.
