Chapter 80. Defeated

Elise’s POV

When I looked at Caius, who was leaning against my door frame, my eyes went from silver to lavender to blue. I wasn’t up for dealing with him again. My head was turned toward the window, and tears trickled down my cheeks slowly.

Caius clenched his jaw so hard that his back teeth were going to break.

He walked slowly over to me and sat down on the window seat by my feet. He watched every muscle in my body, making sure that being so close to me wouldn’t make me attack him violently.

When I didn’t move or say anything, he pulled me away from the wall a little bit. I looked at him with my red, swollen eyes, not sure what he was doing. He looked back at me with a face that showed he had given up. We just looked at each other for a moment, and then he moved behind me and put his arms around my back.

He whispered, “I’m so sorry, Elise.” Then he kissed the top of my head. Even though I didn’t want to feel his love and protection, I needed to feel so