Elena nodded, looking back at him and not bothering to put on a brave or smiling face. She didn't it at all. Keeping this up was becoming exhausting, taking its toll on her emotionally, and she wondered every so often whether or not it would ever end, if he'd ever find enough information about the sun and moon curse to be satisfied with ending this. If he even wanted to end it anymore.

No. She wasn't going to let herself think about it. She couldn't, or this would be much worse for the two of them.

She swallowed hard to fight off a sudden, strong urge to cry, then nodded again, her expression a little less angry and a little more sad. God, when had she become this person, someone so willing to bend her own moral code and lie to everyone, including herself? When had she become okay with letting herself be treated like this?

"Okay."