I don’t respond. Because there’s nothing to say.
Me. Unhinged, violent, half-fucking-feral. The one who kills without blinking, who never wanted to be saved. Falling in love. Saying it out loud. It’s the most human thing I’ve ever done—and the most terrifying.
He drums his fingers on the cane.
“So,” he says, “Arsen told me about your promotion, High Chancellor.”
I glare. “Don’t.”
“No choice. They picked you. They’re backing you. The South belongs to you now.”
“I can’t fucking lead, Raze. I don’t know how.” The truth rips out of me before I can cage it. “I’m not a fucking leader, not like that.”
He studies me with unsettling seriousness.
“It’s in your blood, Priest.”
“I don’t wanthisblood.”
“Well,” Raze shrugs, “now you’ve got mine too. So maybe you’ll turn out a little less psychotic.”
I huff, the breath rattling in my chest. “Doubtful.”
Silence passes before I break it.
“You ever think about commanding?” He lifts a brow. “A Commander spot is open. If you want it.”
He barks out a laugh—and immediately winces, clutching his ribs. “Shit. Don’t make me laugh, I think something inside me just gave up. The council will never let you promote a nobody bastard like me.”
“I won’t give them a choice.”
His grin slips—replaced by something quieter. A real fucking smile.
Since when the fuck do we smile?
“You know I’m not what they want. I was never supposed to make it this far. Some fucked street trash with too much anger. Foreign Legion didn’t want me. Sovereign barely did either.” He lets out a heavy sigh and pauses. “We’re going to burn this whole thing down, aren’t we?”
“That’s the plan.”
“And rebuild it?”
“Maybe.”
He nods. “Good. Because the Sovereign took everything from us. Only fitting we take everything back.”
A nurse appears in the doorway, pale and horrified.
“Sir, you cannot—you absolutely cannot be out of bed?—”
“Oh, shove a thermometer up your ass,” Raze mutters, pushing himself upright with a wince. “I’m leaving.”
And just like that, the room shrinks again. The machines beep. The lights hum. And the only warmth I can feel is her curled against me.
She stirs.
Her lashes flutter, brows pinching as the world rushes back in. There’s a second—just one—where she looks lost. Then her gaze finds mine and everything shatters.
“Priest.”
