The Broken Alpha
“I apologise if I caused you any offense. Trade has been slow in the past months, and as time and age carve away at me, I’ve started to find that objects are more powerful when imbued with emotion.”
Slowly, Lily uncurled her fist. “You may see it, if you like.”
At his nod, she brought her hand closer. She did not remove the ring, but tilted it back and forth. It shimmered softly in the flickering light of the fire and the candles spitting wax upon the hearth.
“It was my mother’s,” she said, her voice little more than a whisper. “She… died. My dad gave me the ring. And then…” her voice wobbled, “I left.”