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“Lord Harshballow?”

“Yes,” I say. “And he had the army searching for me. I could have risked my life fighting and killing thousands of men, or I could have turned to stone, waited a few decades until they all died of natural causes, and woken up with a fresh start. It was the more convenient option.”

“Sounds like it,” she says with a laugh. “But now I’ve screwed it all up.”

“I don’t believe I was petrified for very long,” I say. “And if I was sent to the executioner for disposal, it appears that Lord Harshballow still wants me dead.”

“I’m sorry I ruined your plan,” she says with those adorable cheeks blushing.

“I’m glad you did,” I say, feeling an unnatural amount of love coursing through my veins. “I wouldn’t have wanted to sleep through my mate’s life. Not for anything.”

“Even if it means imminent death?”

“Not for anything.”

Our eyes meet and something in the air shifts. The scent of her desire comes flooding back to me, and I’m glad that my wings are covering my lower half, otherwise she would be able to see my towering desire on full display.

“Why does he want you dead?”

My jaw tightens.

“I broke his arm.”

Her eyes widen. “You broke the lord’s arm?”

“And knocked out three of his guards.”

Her eyes drop to her fidgeting hands. “I see.”

She thinks I’m a monster. Maybe to her species, I am, but I would do it again in a heartbeat.

“They were hunting creatures in the Wildwood. And it wasn’t for food. It was for sport. It was… unnaturally evil.”

She swallows as she listens.

“The lord had a captured dryad when I found them.”

“A dryad?” she asks. “What’s that?”

“A forest nymph,” I tell her. “A nature spirit magically connected to the woods. They had her chained to a tree.”

“Oh my gods…”

“I didn’t hesitate to battle them all when they tried to stop me from freeing her, and I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again.”

“That’s… horrible.”

“You think my actions were horrible?”

She shakes her head fiercely. “No, Tharion. I think your actions were very honorable. I’m glad you were there to help. It’s the situation that’s horrible. How you’re the one who gets punished for doing what’s right. It makes my heart hurt how evil people always seem to be the ones in charge of everything.”

“Yes, it’s unfortunate.”

“You should be celebrated by the community for your bravery,” she says as she looks at me with soft, tender eyes, “but instead, they want you dead.”

“Lots of humans have wanted me dead throughout my lifetime, and I am still standing.”

“Yeah, my species sucks sometimes.”