Nothing else mattered.
His power surged outward, searching every corner of the palace. Walls shuddered as it hunted for threats that no longer existed.
Every movement became a potential enemy. Every sound a target.
Something shifted in his peripheral vision. Too close to what he guarded.
His attention snapped toward it, power gathering to destroy?—
Warm hands pressed against his face.
The sensation cut through everything.
Human skin against his.
His eyes flew wide. Chaos faded as clarity returned in a rush.
Brynn stood before him, her palms cradling his face, warmth radiating despite the freezing air. Her eyes were wide with fear, but not of the attackers. Of him.
Of him.
She was touching him.
Skin to skin.
And she was alive.
"Dante." Her voice shook. "It's me. It's over. Come back."
His hands came up without thinking, covering hers. His gloved hands over her bare ones, feeling the pulse of life beneath her skin.
No death magic responding. No drain. No destruction.
Just her heartbeat.
"How...?" The word emerged broken.
"I don't know." Wonder mixed with fear in her eyes. "But you're not hurting me."
He stared at her. At the impossible reality of her touching him and living.
Nothing between us,he'd told her.I could kill you.
Every excuse. Every wall. Every rejection.
Beliefs. Certainties he'd held for his entire existence. The fundamental truth of his existence: his touch meant death.
Except for her.
"I could have killed you," he said, voice breaking. "I couldn't hear you. Couldn't stop?—"
"But you didn't." Her hands stayed steady. Grounding him. "You came back to me."
He leaned into her touch, trembling with the effort of believing it was real.
"This isn't possible," he whispered.
"And yet." Her thumb moved across his cheekbone, and his breath shattered. "Here I am."
