CEE

uffocating me. I stood in front of the bathroom mirror, my ow

ke a cold, heavy chain. It was meant to symbolize my future place

ch tug at the silver links sent a phantom ache through my chest, a faint echo of the Mate b

fell into my palm, its weight a dead thi

one mantelpiece above the empty fireplace. It would stay there

tion, the scent of her perfume clinging to the fabric, a ghost in the air. The only thing I kept for myself

and Cohen. He had his arm wrapped around my waist, a possessive, confident smile on hi

With a pair of scissors from the kitchen drawer, I

ent into my wallet. His smiling

through my phone, and then I saw it. Hillary had pos

a ring onto her finger-the Bolton family signet ring, a symbol of alliance a

s of devotion... we were just inconvenient details in a busine

ker of hope i

tiff and robotic. I picked up the moonstone ne

d out into the chilly night air. The woods behin

and hurled the necklace with all my strength. It