[Elara POV]
"No, it's all my fault, I ended up hurting you..." I muttered, having just woken back to consciousness. Recalling all that happened during the ritual, my last sight was of me stabbing Kieran.
"Why?" This wasn't the elders' doing... I did it, didn't I? My hands curled into fists. My gaze went back downward as those tears began to fall from my swollen eyes.
Hating myself more and more, facing the truth that I had always been putting everyone in danger. But in those moments, I felt Kieran's warm hand on my cheek. "Elara..." he whispered, his voice almost like a breath as my head slowly raised. Our eyes met, and I noticed that faint smile.
"It wasn't your fault. You have to stop blaming yourself now, Elara..." he said softly.
But I was the reason it all began in the first place. How wasn't it my fault?
I didn't want to cause any more of the pain I had already done. I wanted it all to be over.
