DAMON
"It wasn't me!" Vera steps back quickly. Her hands raise defensively. "The ceremony. The cleansing ritual at the spring. She slipped and started drowning. The current took her under so fast so I jumped in to save her."
"She slipped?" I look down at Sloane's pale face as I began walking towards the room. Her lips are slightly parted. Water droplets cling to her eyelashes. "How does someone just slip during a supervised ceremony?"
"I don't know!" Vera's voice cracks. Genuine distress bleeds through. "One second Athena was performing the ritual. Pouring water over her head. Reciting the prayers. Everything was normal. Then Sloane screamed and fell backwards.m before I dived in."
The words hit like physical blows. If Vera wasn't there, Sloane wouldn't have survived. My mate almost
