The night air outside the stables was cold enough to sting.
I stood by the wooden fence, arms wrapped around myself, the ache in my chest refusing to fade.
Elizer's hand had lingered only a moment on my shoulder — steady, comforting — but it was enough to unravel everything I'd fought to hold together.
He'd said nothing cruel. Nothing bold.
Just quiet questions. Quiet concern.
And somehow, that hurt worse than any insult Seraphina could throw.
"Raina," he'd said softly,
"You can't keep letting them tear you apart."
But he didn't understand — I wasn't allowed to fight back. Not when every step I took was still in Lucien's shadow.
I wiped the corner of my eye quickly, refusing to let the tears fall. Then a shift in the air made me go still. The hairs along my arms lifted.
Someone w
