"Lyra, are you really living with Elara now?"
The way the name came so easily off Max's lips felt strange. I sat there, my cheeks warm from the wine, and slowly nodded. I had already cried like a child in front of her after the concert. I had already confessed that Elara was the one I loved, so there was nothing left to hide.
"I went to see her the other day," Max said, swirling her glass. "I couldn't get a hold of you. I was starting to wonder if she was holding you captive in her house."
My eyes went wide.
"You went to see Elara?"
"Yeah. I nearly died, too."
Max made a face and rubbed her neck. She exaggerated a bit, saying the spot where Elara had grabbed her still hurt. I looked at her throat, wondering if Elara had actually tried to strangle her. It was hard to imagine the Elara I knew now doing that, but then I remembered how she was at the start. It wasn't impossible.
"Did you two fight?" I asked, my voice small.
"Not exactly," Max said.
