(Nicholas)
The idea of Seraphina's offer was still on my mind all night. I couldn't stop thinking about it. Her words had stirred something in me, a hope I didn't know I still had. But hope wasn't enough to erase the mistakes I'd made. It wasn't enough to make me worthy of anything—or anyone.
By morning, I still didn't have an answer, but I knew I needed to talk to her. I couldn't ignore her offer or the way it made me feel, like maybe there was something more waiting for me.
I rode out to the edge of Cyrathis, where Seraphina was staying in a small inn. The ride was quiet, the sound of my horse's hooves steady as I tried to organize my thoughts. I didn't know what I was going to say, but I had to see her.
When I arrived, I tied my horse to a post and made my way inside. Seraphina was seated at a table near the window, her silver hair catching the morning light. She looked up when she saw me, her expression calm but expectant.
