Lira:
The pain I felt in my body was nothing beside the weight crushing my heart.
Liam lay on the ground, half-dead, broken in ways I couldn't bear to see. Relief flickered when his eyes blinked open. It was the smallest proof of life. But that relief was fragile and desperate. He was still here, but only barely.
If I could save him, if I could keep him breathing, that would be my only solace. I loved him too much to watch him die here, in the dirt, at Lumaan's hands.
He had tried to save me. He had thrown himself between us. But courage alone could not mask what he lacked. Fighting was never his gift.
I knew my time was running out. Christo had to know by now. He had to. If anyone could save Liam, it was him.
Lumaan licked my blood trailing from his fist. "Ah... what a taste. I'm going to enjoy this."
He savored my blood, the most potent kind to them. I hated him for it. But more than hate, I wanted to kill him.
"Leave him. Take whatever you want from me. You want revenge, right? Liam has nothing to do with this." Pride would've held those words back once. Not today.
"Oh, but he does." He laughed again. "It's revenge for what your father did to us." He punched my face as he spoke, laughing. "This is for her," he whispered.
I didn't know what to do. I didn't know who 'her' was. But I had to do something. Desperation made me stupid and cruel.
"She deserved it." I laughed, mocking him despite the pain. "I wish she were alive. Then, I would've enjoyed killing her."
He struck me once more. "I will kill you," he snarled.
"But you can't. Your father won't let you. You're nothing but a pawn in his grand scheme," I snarled back.
"Oh..." At first his laugh was just a chuckle, restrained, as if he was trying to keep it inside. But then it swelled with every breath, until it broke free. He tilted his head back; his shoulder shook; it went wild and manic. "You don't know anything about me."
He cocked back his fist for the final blow. This was it. I knew it. I strained my neck, desperate to see Liam one last time.
Sorry, Liam. I tried, but I couldn't do anything. I love you. Forgive me.