ARIA’S POV

Every bit of the renunciation broke me.

The ritual was as physically painful as it was emotionally taunting.

I passed out as soon as it was complete and was pulled away from Draven immediately.

A smile covered my lips when I opened my eyes.

“Baby,”

Caleb and Aya were hovering over me and their face being the first thing I got to see filled a part of the emptiness I was feeling inside, following the renunciation ritual.

“Mom,” they threw their little arms around me.

A drop of tear trickled down my cheek as I recognized the room I had been placed in. The same room that served...