My whole words silence the room.
Lucian froze and his eyes widened like I had slapped him. All the color drained from his face, leaving only shock… and probably hurt?
"Seraphina…" he breathed, voice breaking at the edges.
But I didn't back down.
My anger clouded whatever sanity I had left, and as a woman pushed to her limit, I let my words become weapons.
"You keep telling me not to risk myself," I continued, my voice trembling with anger and hurt, "but if it were your mother lying there… if she was the one dying, would you still tell me to walk away? Would you still say I'm trusting too easily?"
Lucian swallowed hard, his throat bobbing.
"She is dying, Seraphina…" he said quietly. "And I told you… I won't use your flame to save her. Why would you still mention her?"
Something inside me twisted painfully.
"So I shouldn't trust Celeste," I shot back, my voice trembling, "but how far should I trust your words?"
