Lilith POV
The night after the ritual, Lilith couldn't sleep.
She lay in her bed staring at the ceiling and replaying every moment. Nicholas appearing. His translucent form becoming visible. His voice clear and real. His words echoing in her mind.
I love you. I'm not suffering. I'm at peace with my choice.
It should have brought comfort. And in some ways it did. Knowing Nicholas wasn't in pain. Knowing his consciousness had survived. Knowing they could reach him again.
But it also made the loss sharper. More real.
Because she had seen him. Had heard his voice. Had felt his cool touch against her face.
And then watched him fade away again.
Knowing he existed somewhere made it harder to accept that he couldn't be here.
A soft knock at her door pulled Lilith from her thoughts.
"Come in," she said quietly.
The door opened. Sebastian and Lucian entered together. Both of them looking as exhausted and emotionally raw as Lilith felt.
"Couldn't sleep either?" Sebastian asked.
