I took a deep breath and met Zephyrus's silver gaze.
"I…" The word stuck in my throat, trembling with the weight of everything unsaid. Every breath felt too shallow, every second too loud.
Zephyrus didn’t move, didn’t even dare to blink. The air around him hummed faintly—his power reacting to his emotions despite his effort to keep it caged. I could feel it brushing against my skin, soft but electric, like the first breeze before a storm breaks.
“I don’t know how to forgive something like that,” I admitted finally, my voice cracking. “I want to, but I don’t know how. Every time I look at you, I remember Astrid crying. I remember Seth and Jacob looking like zombies because something was missing. If I forgive you, I wouldn't be able to look at them in the eye."
Zephyrus flinched, his he
