Eleanor felt her knees buckle as she fell back down, her chest heaving with tears. Her eyes closed as the tears ran down her face in three, four lines, her nose damp from all the tears, her body trembling from the tremors of her very own heart breaking.

"Eleanor..." Brandon started to say, obviously still rattled by Conaan's outburst and simply not knowing what to do to comfort her. She looked absolutely wrecked as she sat on the floor, her hands trembling as she squeezed them around her dress.

Suddenly, Conaan appeared by the door, his eyes taking her in. Without a word, he walked in briskly, his robe that...