Helena felt the energy that had so voraciously taken over her body dissipate when she saw the commander ready to kill her. Deep down, she understood that even though she loved him deeply and wanted nothing more than to be near him, that could no longer happen.

He was lucid until he was in her presence; her presence was the trigger that awakened the curse of madness within him. And she knew that distance was best for him, even if it cost her heart, even if it meant she would die inside, ...