“Think of it as my way of apologising.” He muttered, his voice low and deep. It seemed like he was struggling with the way he tightened his arms around me. I could feel his emotions yielding to him. So intense and overwhelming that seeped through my veins to my heart, plaguing it with a disease called to care. I did not. I reminded myself. But who was I to deny it anymore.

“For how many things are you going to apologise?” I said, almost too broken that Xerxes flinched. His fingers dug into my waist as he pulled me close. Afraid that I might disappear if he let go.

“Everything.”...