The chamber they had been given was dimly lit, only one candle sputtering against the heavy silence. Dusk crept closer outside; Alex could feel it, each second dragging him nearer to the moment he wanted to undo.
He sat on the edge of the bed, hands trembling, staring at the stone floor until his vision blurred. Liam stood by the window, the last sliver of sunlight painting his face in pale gold. For a heartbeat, Alex could almost believe none of this was real—that soon, they'd leave, and Liam would stay the same.
But reality pressed in.
Alex's chest constricted, his throat raw. The words tore out of him before he could stop them.
"Why?"
Liam turned. His brows furrowed, confusion flashing across his green eyes.
