Lorien POV

I could barely process what I’d done or how effortlessly the darkness had claimed me. The moment the guards rushed in, forcing themselves between Lucen and me, my body gave out, and I collapsed to my knees.

Auren was there before I could blink. He didn’t care about the blood, the chaos, or the gasps around us his only focus was me. His arms came around me in a desperate embrace, grounding me, pulling me back from the void I’d nearly surrendered to.

“Lorien, look at me,” ...