CASSIAN
It was the only part of him that was still working properly. For one tiny split second, something bright flashed behind his pupil, a small, quick spark like a match being struck inside a house with all the windows blown out.
"Julian—" I choked out.
The name came out of my throat completely ruined. It was too loud, too raw, my voice cracking in a way it had never done in front of another living person since I was a child.
Julian tried to move toward me. He lurched his shoulders forward, but his legs wouldn't cooperate, his boots just shuffling an inch through the dust before his head dropped down toward his chest from the sheer effort of trying to stand.
I threw myself against the men holding my arms, pulling with everything I had left in my back and legs.
I strained against five pairs of heavy hands, the leather of my jacket tearing as I tried to rip my wrists free.
