Arielle stared at him in stunned silence. For a long moment, she didn't breathe, didn't blink. She simply watched Damien as though waiting for him to take the words back.
As though she was hoping they were nothing but jokes. She hoped it was a prank.
Leaving.
He had actually said he was leaving!
Her lips parted, but no sound came out at first. Her eyes trembled, her hands curling unconsciously at her sides.
"…No." It finally slipped out as a breath.
Damien met her gaze steadily. "Arielle—"
"No." She stepped closer, voice rising. "You can't just say that. Not now. Not after everything we've been through. Not after what we had to go through in Delwig. You can't just... leave."
Her heartbeat was so loud it almost drowned out the quiet pulse of the forest around them.
They stood near the cracked Gate where they had confirmed the seal held, where the beasts had begun to return, the world slowly stitching itself back together. The air was cool, the breeze soft.
