ealed. Lord Marcus and the other council members walked ahead, already discussing the political ramifications of Seraphin

the palace gates. "That was intense

what okay feel

. Seraphine's been exposed. The prophecy says there were two paths. Does tha

id with tension as he walked ahead of us. "Even if we wanted to try, we're not the same people anymore. He's not th

sions of you can build something diff

sible after so much damage. But the darkness inside me resisted

ne except Kael and me. "My private study," he said.

stance and control. But I followed him anyway, d

burned in the hearth, and a large desk was covered in maps and reports. This was w

resent as witness and mediator. Alaric moved to the window, sta

ything I based my decision on, was a lie. And now you're here, alive but not a

is done. You rejected me. I died. The curse act

ou are half-dead and filled with darkness, immorta

I said, repeating what Morganna had told me. "Or when

ond that was violently

re, needing its warmth against the cold that lived in my bones. "Morganna said it might be possible, but it would require both of us to wa

. "After everything I did, everything you suffer

es, I would be admitting that revenge wasn't what I truly wanted.

stand what you put me through. But another part, the part that's still Eira underneath all this darkness, remembers what it felt like

l I'd barely noticed before, and suddenly you were everything. My wolf went crazy. He wanted to run to you, to claim you, to never let you go. And I was terrified because I'd

se the crow

ared of being vulnerable. Scared that loving you would make me weak." He moved closer. "I was wrong. Rejecting you didn't make me strong. It just ma

ways rising. What if that's what this is? You were raised to believe that power and strength came from standing alone, from never showing

y capable of that kind of love anymore. The darkness insi

es when you're not trying to hide her. I hear her in your voice when you talk about wounded

aybe becoming Lyra was the only w

t. I've worn armor for centuries too. But armor doesn't let anything in. Not pain, but not joy either. Not

s that what I'd been doing? Building walls so

o try, how would it work? The bond is broken. I'm not fully aliv

began, we know the truth. Seraphine's lies are exposed. The real prophecy is cle

it sound

I can't undo the past. I can't bring back the girl I killed or erase your suffering. But I can offer you the truth. I was wrong. I chose fear over love, and it dest

so much. If I took it, I would be choosing possibility over revenge. H

. Don't trust him. He'll just hurt you a

red something different. What if he's change

d. Not yet. But I did

en capable of what you're suggesting. The darkness inside me is strong. Some days it'

ut if they can heal together instead of separately." He lowered his hand but didn't look disappo