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“I take it you had a good day, then?” Zaylin asked, her voice as dry as the desert beneath the clouds.

A choked, mirthless laugh left Alex, but it quickly turned into a sob as the tears finally welled in her eyes and began spilling over. She didn’t care that she’d reacted to the Tia Auran’s words—all she cared about was the horrific fight she’d just had with one of her closest friends.

Crumpling onto the edge of the bed, Alex leaned forward, her face in her hands as she cried her heart out in painful sobs and salty tears. She was too lost in her distress to notice when Zaylin sat beside her and started rubbing her back; all she knew was that once her crying finally subsided, the Tia Auran was still there offering comfort. Had Alex been in any other frame of mind, she would have wondered at the helper’s newfound compassion, given how Zaylin had so far treated her. But right now, Alex didn’t have it in her to question anything.

Remaining silent, Zaylin helped Alex into her pyjamas before urging her into bed, tucking her in just as her mother used to do when she was younger. For the second time since arriving in Tia Auras, Alex was overwhelmed with longing for her parents, even just to have them hold her and tell her that everything would work out in the end. Because right now, she wasn’t so sure.

With a reassuring squeeze of her arm, Zaylin whispered, “Sleep, Alex. Tomorrow is a new day. Your light will shine again.”

And with a bright flash, Zaylin disappeared, leaving Alex lying alone in the darkness, exhausted from the emotional strain of her day but unable to quiet her mind enough to sleep.

When not even a few minutes later the bed depressed in a familiar movement, Alex didn’t turn, she just remained curled on her side as Kaiden settled in at her back. He wrapped an arm around her waist and drew her close, his strong, safe presence enveloping her.

Tears slipped from her eyes at his tender action, at his understanding. And finally, held in the protective circle of his arms, she was able to calm her thoughts enough to drift off to sleep.

A knock on Alex’s door in the middle of the night woke her.

Her first thought was to wonder how she’d even fallen asleep around her turbulent emotions, but then she remembered the comfort offered by Kaiden—who was no longer lying beside her, having apparently climbed back to his room once he knew she was finally getting the rest she so needed.

A deep surge of emotion welled within Alex as she thought of just how caring he’d been—and how caring he’dalwaysbeen towards her, right from the very beginning. But she couldn’tenjoy the fluttery feeling because another short knock stole her attention, reminding her of what had awoken her.

Her mind still fuzzy with sleep, Alex slid out of bed and stumbled gracelessly to the door, opening it without thought as to who she would find on the other side.

She was unprepared, therefore, to see Jordan standing there.

His clothes were wrinkled and his hair was a mess on top of his head, as if he’d been running his fingers through it over and over. But it was the look in his eyes that had Alex sucking in a swift breath.

Eyes that, upon seeing her, welled with tears.

“Alex,” he whispered, his voice raw. “I’m so—I’mso—” He made a painful noise in the back of his throat, his expression ravaged as he finally managed to choke out, “I’m so sorry.”

He didn’t move—didn’t do anything other than look at her with sorrowful eyes, regret splashed clear across his features.

Alex could read his guilt enough to see that he didn’t expect her to forgive him. Because of that, it was she who moved, unwilling to let him hate himself for what he’d said, as reprehensible as his words had been.

Closing the distance between them, she wrapped her arms around him. His already taut body froze, but then his hands moved to circle her, his grip tightening with desperation. His body started shaking against hers as he released his grief and anger and fear, everything he’d been feeling over the course of the day—and longer. The same emotions Alex herself had been struggling to control.

With tears starting up again—healing ones, this time, as her own heart began to mend—Alex held Jordan for long minutes until he heaved a breath and pulled back.

Looking into her eyes, his expression was sincere as he said in a husky voice, “I didn’t mean what I said. None of it. I was just so—”

“Shhh,” Alex interrupted. “I know you only said it because you were upset.”

Jordan was shaking his head. “I didn’t even let you explain.”

“It doesn’t matter now. You don’t need to apologise again— I’ve already forgiven you.”

“I don’t deserve that. The things I said—”

“That’s what family does, Jordan,” Alex cut in quietly. “We make mistakes. And we forgive each other.”

Jordan closed his eyes, the remaining tension draining from his body as he drew her back into his arms for another shuddering hug. “You’re one of the best things that’s ever happened to me. You know that, right?”

His whispered words soothed the last of her hurt, leaving her feeling nothing but warm inside.

“If you make me cry again, I’ll take back my forgiveness,” she told him, her voice hoarse as she battled a renewed surge of emotion.

Her response prompted a light chuckle from him—the sound unimaginably wonderful to Alex’s ears—and he released her enough that she could see his eyes were no longer filled with tears, but instead clear and bright once more.