rs. Chen stared at me, their polite smiles frozen on their faces. General

had eyes

ere, but now it was mixed with suspicion, a flicker of something I couldn't name. He

?" General Thompson's voice was a low growl, me

ng slightly but firm. "I'm seriou

ice laced with the cutting

arah? Another on

che spread through my chest, a phantom pain from a life I was trying to erase. In the pa

not a game. It'

ardian. "General, we n

into my skin. "You are embarrassing me.

I shot back, pulling my arm free. The fire in my own v

k, knowing the General would follow. He caught u

ourself,"

plan would lead to three deaths and unbearable grief? I couldn't tel

ou into this. I thought... I thought it was what I wanted. But it's not fair to D

se of honor, the militar

bout securing your future. The Chens are a good famil

"Because he's in love with

me. Everyone knew. But in his world, a childhood romance was a

" he said dismissively. "It

nge her life," I said. "Please, General. Call it off. Tell them I

e, not used to being defied, especially by me. But he was also my guardian, the man who had t

ppeared in the hallway. Her face wa

asked, her voice soft. "Whatever i

grief, her face twisted with a hatred that was directed solely at me. I had to

th an emotion she couldn't possibly understand. "

ir. I ended up on a small balcony overlooking the city.

silence stretched between us, thick with unspoken words. In my first life, I had spent years trying

t an invitation.

solitary figure against the vast city, I realized my mistake. He wasn't rejecting me. He was just trying to preserve the one small piece of himself that hadn't been invaded. Hi