The last thing she remembered was how sadness had drained the color from Lev’s face, leaving him as pale as a winter morning in Duradel.

Consciousness slowly faded away from her, and Vero knew this was the end of her life. Celsi had unintentionally, with sincere intention, plunged her into death.

Or so she thought.

“Verona.”

She heard Lev’s voice in the distance, calling her name with hope, even a hint of force, and faintly, she felt something caressing her face.

“Verona, you know I can’t go on a day without you. How dare you close your eyes and not react to my calling?”

Sometimes she forgets how arrogant Lev...