Kain opened his eyes. The faint blue glow in his pupils dimmed, replaced by the faint sparkle of excitement at having broken through a major milestone.
Serena stood before him, her expression caught between relief, exhaustion, and happiness for him.
However, there was also a faint twinge of sadness in the wrinkle of her brow, that only someone who knew her well could see. In her trembling hands lay the cracked brooch, its faint indigo gleam now long gone.
When his gaze fell on it, his heart clenched.
He reached out slowly, brushing his thumb across the shattered gem. On the underside, half-obscured by time, was a name he recognized instantly—Evangeline Lumos-Storm.
Serena's mother. A somewhat famous figure, so naturally he'd heard of her. And knew that she was dead.
Guilt twisted through him, sharp and unrelenting. "This…" His voice faltered, his throat tight. He had no words that could possibly make it right.
