Chapter 40

(Clara's POV)

I felt a surge of guilt and grief wash over me as I realized I was the reason another person had lost his life.

Gabriel.

He had been a complex and mysterious figure in my life. First an enemy, then a friend, then an enemy again. And now he was gone, leaving behind a trail of secrets and questions.

What did they want from me? Why were they trying so hard to end me?

I had so many questions with no answers. When Alastair came back, I had healed from the physical wounds, but the scars on my heart seemed to have no cure.

He walked into the room with a somber expression on his face. He came over to the hospital bed and sat beside me. He wrapped his arm around me and pulled me close to him. I snuggled into his embrace, craving his comfort.

"What happened?" I asked him softly.

He sighed deeply before answering. "He's dead. It's confirmed. We're back to square one. Clueless." He said, staring at the wall.

I processed his words silently in my head. While they saddened me, there wa