Lilith's breath caught and he felt tears on her cheeks even though she did not make a sound.
"Don't make promises you can't keep," she said quietly.
"I never do."
He pulled back and looked at her one more time, memorizing her face, the way the afternoon light caught in her hair, the bond marks on her throat that marked her as theirs, and then he forced himself to step away.
"I have to go," he said. "Nicholas is waiting."
Lilith nodded but did not say anything.
Sebastian walked to the door and paused with his hand on the handle. "Lilith?"
"Yes?"
"Stay safe. Please. Don't do anything stupid while we're gone."
"I'll try."
It was not the promise he wanted but it was all she was willing to give.
Sebastian left before he could change his mind about going.
***
Nicholas POV
Nicholas was waiting in the main hall when Sebastian came down the stairs looking like he had just torn his own heart out and left it bleeding on the floor.
"How is she?" Nicholas asked.
