Her trembling hands finally brushed the curve of her son's tiny fingers. They were stiff. Her head fell forward, hair curtaining her face as the sob that finally broke free sounded more animal than human.
Damien finally forced himself forward, step by heavy step, until he stood before Morvakar. The mage's arms still stretched to the heavens, fingers curled. His whole body trembled with exhaustion, yet he refused to let go. For a moment Damien only looked at him, saw the raw torment carved into the man's face—the sweat dripping into his hollow cheeks. He had given everything, maybe more than his own life could spare, and still clung on. "You can let go, Morvakar. Let go. It's not your fault." His hand hovered, uncertain, before resting on the man's wrist.
Morvakar's head tilted just slightly, as though Damien's voice was a thread pulling him back from the abyss. His eyes shifted, bloodshot and glowing faintly red, to meet Damien's. "I broke her heart."
