“What kind of sick society discourages people from getting help?” Emma snarled. “I don’t care if I’m outcasted—”
“You can’t be. You’re the Worldweaver. You have a responsibility to Malovia and its people. Something that goes beyond me,” I said. “If you’re chased out of the country, you can’t attend Arcanea University, and you can’t find the stones. What will you do then?”
Emma stopped pacing, and chewed on her lip. “But don’t you see? It wasn’t you who did all those horrible things last semester. You’re not the one who stabbed me. It was the demon.”
My stomach clenched in guilt, thinking of the way the Phantom had run the White Rose through, on the rooftop of the palace that night of the masquerade. “Itwasme, Emma,” I said gently. “The leshane made the suggestion, put the idea in my head, but it was I who made the final choice. I was the one who killed those cultists without mercy, not him. The demon can make me angry, influence my emotions, but he can’t force me to act upon them. The guilt falls on me alone.”
Emma’s teeth gnashed. “You have to hold on. You have to fight this, cling to your beliefs so we can cast this demon out!”
“You don’t understand. I’m not sure what my beliefs are anymore,” I stated. “The leshane has twisted them so harshly it’s difficult to understand what’s right and what’s wrong. I can no longer tell where my opinion ends and his begins.”
“That can’t be true. You have unbendable morals. Beliefs in things like patriotism, and freedom.”
“Yes. I believe in freedom, above all things. Though there was a point I never believed you had to kill in order to obtain it. The leshane changed my mind about that.”
Emma tapped her shoe in thought. “Last semester you said preserving freedom is more important than saving lives. Iknewthat wasn’t you. You don’t think that way.”
“Do I not?” I questioned. “I’m unsure. The leshane took that belief in freedom and twisted it to his own desires. He can do that with anything— even my love for you.”
Emma winced when I admitted I still loved her… but I wouldn’t lie. It was still the truth.
But she didn’t say she loved me back, and that hurt. “You say you don’t know who you are, butIknow you, Ethan. You’re my mate. I know who you are at the core.”
“You might not,onawilke. We didn’t meet each other until after I was already possessed,” I said. “What if I’m not the person you think I am? What if you fell for the leshane?”
To be honest, that was what I was most terrified of.
Emma rolled her eyes. “Please, Ethan. My judgement isn’t that awful.”
“But the demon is a trickster. A master of fae magic. He could’ve—”
“Don’t say it. I won’t believe it.” She ran a few fingers through her fiery mane and added, “There has to be something keeping you anchored. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have lasted this long.”
“Our bond is the only thing keeping him at bay. The magic that ties us together is strong. He can’t override it unless the bond is rejected.”
I paused. “Though… it weakened greatly when I chose the Phantom over you last semester.”
Emma scowled. Gods, the look she gave me could melt iron. I hated bringing that up, but what other choice did I have?
“I don’t get what you want,” she began. “Ethan, there was more to us breaking up than just this demon, or you being the Phantom. It’s about who you are.”
She shook slightly. “Your country willalwayscome before me. I’ll never stop being the sacrifice. You’re not just being noble. You’re obsessed. I’m not sure if our relationship willeverwork, because you’re not willing to put me first. If it comes down to it, you’ll always choose Malovia over me.”
“I understand that. It’s something I put a great deal of thought into over the past few months.”
“Okay, so you want to start dating again?” she asked sarcastically. “After everything that’s happened?”
“No, Emma. I don’t.”
Her mouth dropped open in shock. Tears sprang to her eyes— because even though she wasn’t ready to enter into a commitment with me again, she wasn’t expecting that answer.
She must’ve shoved her pain down, because her tone turned hateful. “So what are you saying? You don’t want me back?”
The wolf inside me whimpered in pain. “OfcourseI want you back, Emma, but…”
I took a shaky breath. “This demon is dangerous. I don’t want to hurt you again, like I did the night of…”
Her face darkened, and I trailed off. “Well. You know what happened.”
