Claudia knelt in front of Damian, her hands trembling slightly as she gently wiped the tears from his cheeks with the edge of her sleeve. His sobs had quieted, but his shoulders still shuddered with the remnants of his pain. It was the first time she had ever seen him so vulnerable, and it twisted something deep inside her. She didn't know if it was guilt or love—or both.
"Please," Alaric whispered, his voice raw and hoarse. He looked at her, his eyes brimming with a mix of desperation and confusion. "Please don't tell me you'll leave me again..." His words trailed off as his chest tightened, and he clutched at the fabric of his shirt like he was trying to ease the ache in his heart.
Claudia's hand froze mid-air, startled by the depth of his plea. She had heard Damian speak many times be
