Whispers of the past

 (Chapter 45:Mira's Pov) 

 Mira's breath came in short, uneven gasps. The weight of what she had seen pressed into her chest like an iron brand.

 She had sworn an oath.

 She had trusted Callidus.

 And—gods help her—she had loved him.

 Lorenzo's grip on her shoulders was firm, grounding, but there was tension in the way he held her. His golden eyes, sharp as ever, studied her face.

 "What did you see?" His voice was steady, but there was an edge beneath it.

 Mira swallowed. "I—" Her throat felt raw. The words wouldn't come.

 Lorenzo's fingers tightened slightly, his patience thinning. "Mira."

 She pulled away, forcing herself to breathe. "I saw a life that wasn't mine." The words felt foreign on her tongue. "But it was mine. Before this one."

 The warlock watched in silence, unreadable as ever.

Lorenzo's jaw clenched. "And?"