Nernia's POV
I slammed the door to my chambers behind me and locked it.
Not because I thought he'd follow me.
But because I couldn't bear the idea that he wouldn't.
My hands were still shaking, my throat tight from holding back the scream that had been trying to claw its way out of me since he said those words.
"I can't love you."
What a lie. A cruel, terrible lie dressed up as self-sacrifice.
I wasn't a fool. I saw it—the way his gaze softened when I laughed, the way his voice dipped low when he whispered my name, like it tasted like safety and sin all at once.
But he'd stood there, all cold and noble and wrong, and thrown it all into the fire.
I paced the room like a caged creature, breathing too hard, too fast. My powers were reacting, my palms tingling faintly with heat, wind curling at the edges of my hair even with the windows shut.
I gritted my teeth. Control it, Nernia.
But how could I control anything when everything inside me was unraveling?
I slammed my hands against the edge of the mirror. "Damn you, Kaelen," I whispered to my reflection. "You don't get to break me and call it protection."
I stared at the girl in the glass—cheeks flushed, eyes burning, lips trembling. I barely recognized her. This wasn't the warrior who stood against council threats, who trained for hours, who had secrets wrapped in flame and blood.
This girl was... in love. And hurt. And angry.
Why couldn't he just admit it? Why did he have to make it worse by pretending he felt nothing?
Maybe I would've understood if he had said, "I'm scared."
But no—Kaelen, ever the tragic hero, decided that shutting me out was somehow better than falling.
Screw that.
I stormed to the balcony and let the wind hit my face. The night was quiet, still. Too still.
I hated it.
I hated that his absence felt like a storm.
A tear slipped down my cheek. Then another. And I didn't stop them this time.
Because even though he wouldn't say it, I knew.
He loved me.
And for some twisted reason... that hurt more than if he didn't.