A treasure among the ordinary—that's what she was, and why his story had to shatter this way. Darkness follows him like a shadow. Beauty withers in his presence. He'd stolen enough of her light; now she deserved the happiness he could never give. Being her friend meant setting her free. Perhaps this final act of sacrifice would finally redeem him. His fingers traced the silk of her hair as their eyes met—a moment suspended between what was and what could never be. Her capacity for forgiveness humbled him. Despite everything he'd taken from her, she still let him close. He'd never known anyone with such boundless grace. "Iris, I'm sorry. I'll always be sorry."