Chapter 51
Zeraphine's POV
I hated myself for letting my guard down around Draven. I hated how I had laughed and smiled like nothing in the world could hurt me. Like he couldn’t hurt me. But he had. The memory of his words kept playing in my head, each time squeezing the air out of my lungs.
“She’s no one.”
No one.
My chest tightened like iron bands were wrapped around it. How could I have let myself believe, even for a moment, that I mattered to him? I should’ve known better. I did know better. From the start, this was just an agreement, a charade to fool everyone else.
I had no right to feel this way. No right to feel hurt.
But last night, under the stars, I let myself imagine—dream even. A small, foolish dream that maybe, just maybe, there could be something real. And this mornin
