Nyx's POV
"Nothing did happen between us."
We both knew it was a lie.
His jaw tightened. "Fine. If that's what you need to tell yourself."
He turned and walked back into the great hall.
I stood in the corridor for a long time, waiting for my hands to stop shaking.
When I finally made it back to my mother's room, she was waiting for me.
She didn't say anything. She just opened her arms.
I crossed the room and collapsed into them, and for the first time since Diane had arrived, I let myself cry.
She held me through it, stroking my hair, murmuring soft words I couldn't make out. No questions. No demands. Just this.
When the tears finally stopped, I pulled back and wiped my face.
"I'm sorry," I said. "I don't know what..."
"Don't apologize." She tucked a strand of hair behind my ea
