There was a sound, low and startled: Serene turned to it and let go of Elliot, though he reached out a hand to keep her. His hand fell by his side when he looked where she was looking, and saw Luke. It was truly terrible luck that both Serene and Luke should make for the library as soon as the battle was over. Luke had stopped and was staring at them, blue eyes very wide. “I didn’t—” Luke began. “I’ll go. I didn’t mean to intrude.” He turned around, boots cutting furrows in the mud with the force of his turn, and left. He had hardly been there for more than an instant.
