Happiness spread through her at the sight, but she hid it well. She got him on that one; she never wanted him to forget. Vetta blinked hard to make sure the tears ran down her cheeks. “But now I know I was wrong. I almost killed her. I should never have let my pain get the best of me.”
Silence. The silence stretched.
Finally, King Lucien cupped her cheek. “It’s alright, Vetta. I’m glad you finally understand that you did wrong. I punished you because I don’t want you to become a monster because of everything we went through.
“Let me bear those burdens alone; it is my cross to bear. I gave you freedom, and I want you to enjoy it. To bask in it. Do not become like me. I don’t want to see you become a monster.”
“Yes, my king,” she whispered, rubbing her cheek on his rough palm.
He pulled
