Elara's pov

I found Von in his quarters, sitting on the edge of his narrow bed with his head in his hands.

"Hey," I said softly from the doorway.

He looked up, and the smile he gave me was the saddest thing I'd ever seen. "Hey yourself. Shouldn't you be sleeping? Big day tomorrow, you get to watch me get torn apart by wolves."

"Don't." I moved into the room, closing the door behind me. "Don't joke about it."

"What else am I supposed to do?" He scrubbed his hands over his face. ...