Hanging between his fingers was a small, tarnished locket belonging to my mother. The very locket I had given Zyan as a promise when we were thirteen-’If you keep this, you keep me.’

"You shouldn’t be so stubborn Lianna. "His thumb traced it lazily.

"Apologize now or this disappears for ever." A chill crept into his eyes, his tone leaving no room for refusal."

My vision blurred. Not from weakness, but from grief so sharp that it crushed me.

I got up with the last of my breaths, my knees hitting the cold floor. Pain ricocheted up my spine.

I could barely breathe, barely stay upright.

Slowly…painfully…I lowered myself until my forehead touched the cold floor.

"I am sorry" I whispered before looking up at Zyan, and the moment our eyes met, his entire being faltered.

Broken, destroyed and utterly ruined.

The red-rimmed eyes that once held an ocean of love looked at him with raw despair…empty.

This time, he hesitated, his expression complicated.

It was then Victoria sniffled delicately, wiping a perfectly timed tear.

"Oh sister…I didn’t want this." It was then she gently took the pendant from Zyan.

"Here, sister…I will give it to you."she murmured, stepping toward me with a gentle, angelic smile.