“Because you’re being very careful not to answer.” He met her furious amber eyes; the eyes that now looked so wrong. “It’s true, you are not an eagle shifter. But neither is Lola. The two of you don’t share your animals. You shareyouranimal. Because you have always been a?—”
She flung herself at him, clamping both hands across his mouth.
“Don’t say it,” she snarled, right in his face. “Neversay it.”
He caught her wrists, freeing himself. “I want to hear you say it, Leonie.”
“Why?” She hurled the word at him like a dagger, furious tears spilling down her cheeks. “So you can taste it? Because you’rehungry?”
That might have stopped him once. Not now.
“Because you need to admit the truth.” He gently pushed her away, releasing her. “If only to yourself.”
Leonie sagged, anger draining away. She collapsed onto her chair, burying her face in her hands.
“Lola always wanted to fly,” she said, muffled. “She wanted it so, so much. Every griffin has golden eyes. But hers were always brown. Just brown.”
He stroked her hair, golden strands catching in his claws. “And yours weren’t.”
Leonie nodded, leaning into his palm. “When I told her I’d finally shifted…I saw the look on her face. She tried so hard to be happy for me. I would have done anything to help her.Anything.”
That was Leonie. She would sacrifice anything for the people she loved. No hesitation. No regret.
For the sake of her sister, she had torn her soul in half. Now, she was ready to give up that part of herself forever.
For him.
“Lola can’t find out,” Leonie whispered. “It would only hurt her. I can’t hurt my sister, Shan. Ican’t.”
“I know.” He bent to kiss her head. “I would never ask that of you.”
She looked up at him hopefully, cheeks wet with tears. “Then you understand why I have to do this?”
“I understand that you will always put those you love first.” He pulled his hand away, stepping back. “Which is why I have to putyoufirst. Always.”
Yes,his qiongqi whispered. No snarling from that part of himself now; no driving hunger. Just strength, and support, and pain.Yes.
Leonie’s breath caught. She scrambled up, fists clenched. “Shan. Shan, no. Don’t you dare do this to me. Not again.”
“It’s the only way.” He took a deep breath, filling his chest with her scent, one last time. “I love you. All of you. And if you have to cut pieces off yourself so that our lives can fit together, the cost is too high.”
“So, what?” Leonie lifted her chin, glaring at him. “You’re just going to leave me? Disappear for good, like you always intended?”
He closed his eyes for a moment, fighting to keep his voice level. “If that is what I have to do.”
“Don’t think you can come crawling back when you come to your senses.” She’d gone beyond rage now, into a cold, icy calm. Every syllable slid down his throat, sweet and choking. “Shan, I am not doing this again. If you walk out that door now, it’s over.Weare over.”
That flavor. That rich, delicious flavor. Just as good as he’d remembered; just as terrible.
Truth. And pain.
We are monsters, my son. Never forget that.
“I know,” he said, and left.
CHAPTER 33
“Beth, catch it!” Estelle yelled, charging up the pitch after the Frisbee. A moment later, she groaned. “Oh, come on, you could have intercepted that. Now we’ve even further behind.”
