“Don’t be,” he said in his husky voice that was now more comforting than any other sound. The rawness in his voice squeezed my heart in a vice, and I had to swallow back my emotion. “How did you do this all alone?” “Now that I know you, I’m not sure.” My chest constricted with loss. I wanted my mother. I wanted Dyter. I missed Arnik. I wanted someone to hold me, to hug me, to tell me things were going to be all right and mean it. “I miss my mother,” I said, and a fat tear slipped down my cheek and landed on the sharp stone I sat upon. “I know, beautiful. I know.” I choked on a cry, forcing it
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