LAUREN'S POV

“I know she deserves more, but at this point, we just have to.” Tessa’s voice was soft but carried a firmness I had heard before. Usually when she had already made up her mind about something.

I shook my head slowly, taking a deliberate step back as if putting physical space between her words and my heart would make them less true. “No,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper at first before it gained strength. “Elena will be buried here.”

Her brows furrowed. “How?” Tessa asked, a mix of confusion and concern painting her face. She knew the question was more than about logistics, it was...