ETAN
Etan was numb. His head buzzing. His skin felt too tight, as if it resisted movement.
Before his father said the words that fell like a hammer blow on his heart, he braced himself and made his face blank. He had the warning. He'd intended to watch Ayleth, to see, to make sure she didn't… he didn't know. Only knew that he'd intended to be there for her somehow, whether she realized it or not. But he was a coward.
He'd been unable to lift his head while his father spoke, until he was forced to by the approach of his parents from one side of the table, and Sarya and her parents from the other. He'd looked up then, raking his eyes over Ayleth—or where she'd been. But there were people standing between them now.
