“Breathe, Sera.” I sucked in air. “I could never pity someone as strong and brave as you,” Nyktos said. “But you do have my sympathy and my apologies.” I leaned back, but his hand followed. “I don’t want that. Or need it and—” “I know,” he repeated, his thumb coasted across my cheek. “But they are there in case you are in need of them one day.” Raw emotion swelled so quickly that I had to close my eyes again, because if I didn’t, that mess of emotion would make itself painfully visible.
