I reached up and wiped away her tears with a shaking smile, and I pushed away the pain in my lower abdomen where a dagger had pierced in through.

“Don’t cry,” I said softly as I brushed her brunette hair away and the thick forest around us darkened, and thunder in the sky. I knew it was Viola and Zae going at it.

She leaned into my hand and sobbed, but she did not dare touch me as her wings shi...