Julian's POV
The shame was suffocating.
I sat outside the farmhouse, my back pressed against the wall, staring blankly into the darkened horizon. The air was still thick with the smell of blood, smoke, and the bitter tang of magic. Remi's face haunted me—the hurt, the betrayal, the raw pain etched into her every feature.
I had seen it the moment Luke spoke the truth, and I knew. I had lost her.
My fingers curled into fists, nails biting into my palms. How could I ever explain this to her? How could I justify the decisions I had made when they cost her so much?
"Dammit," I muttered under my breath, leaning forward and burying my face in my hands.
"Well, that's a look I've seen before," a voice said dryly, pulling me out of my spiralling thoughts.
I glanced up. Mira st
