Guards forced me toward the altar despite Kade's snarled protests, chains snapping around my wrists the moment I crossed some invisible boundary carved into the stone floor, silver biting cold against my skin exactly the way it had bitten the other girl's for years.
She was pushed beside me, close enough that I could feel her trembling, her breath coming in short, terrified gasps.
"It's alright," I whispered to her, though I did not entirely believe it myself. "Whatever happens, we do this together."
Her eyes flicked to mine, some fragile trust sparking despite everything. "I don't even know your first name properly," she whispered back.
"Selene."
"Mira," she offered, the smallest, saddest smile crossing her face. "Nice to finally meet you, Selene, right before we probably die togethe
