Freda Pov
The heat was consuming me from the inside out. I sat on that bench in the garden crying because Kyran had run away and left me alone. My whole body felt like it was burning alive, and nothing helped. Nothing eased the terrible aching need that was driving me insane.
"Why did he leave?" I sobbed to the empty air. "Why does everyone keep leaving me alone when I need help so badly?"
Then I heard footsteps coming back through the trees. I looked up with tears streaming down my face and saw Kyran emerging from the shadows. He looked torn and conflicted like he was fighting some huge battle inside his own mind.
"Kyran," I said. My voice came out broken and desperate. "You came back. Thank you for not abandoning me."
"I should not be here," Kyran said. He stopped several feet away from me. "This is so wrong, Freda. I know it is wrong. But I could not leave you there crying like that. I just could not do it."
