I loathed myself for the depth of my yearning, the way it gnawed at my insides. I wanted so desperately for it to be true that she would walk through that door.
But I knew better than to entertain such illusions. Hope was a luxury I couldn't afford, especially not on a night like this.
So, I swallowed hard, forcing down the cravings and dreams that bubbled to the surface, pushing them deep within me, where they could suffocate quietly out of sight. I steeled myself against the harsh reality, burying the desire in the farthest corners of my mind where I kept the rest of the pain. And I continued the procession like nothing inside me had splintered at the edges.
At the foot of the staircase, Lupercus waited, already standing with that quiet, unreadable calm he wore so well. He gave me a
