Jasmine's POV
"I meant every word," Lina declared, her voice cutting through the heavy silence. "We all have to return together."
I lifted my gaze to meet hers, the ache in my chest growing stronger with each breath. "No. I'm going by myself."
Her eyes widened in disbelief. "What did you just say?"
"I don't want any of you coming with me. Not Luis, not Stephen, and definitely not Palmer." The words scraped against my throat, but I forced them out anyway. "This battle belongs to me alone."
Lina straightened her spine, crossing her arms defensively. "Listen to yourself, Jasmine. Naia and Jeffrey are my godchildren. They're part of my family too. You can't seriously expect me to sit here doing nothing while they were stolen right from under my protection."
