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Layne’s words drifted down to me, soft but damning, but I didn't move. My cheek stayed pressed to the cold muck of the seafloor as my hair swayed above me in the current.

His scent reached me first, but it was sweeter than normal. Layne's shadows crept toward me like spilled ink, pooling underneath me as they coiled around my body. The tendrils of darkness slowly formed into the familiar firm grasp of Layne’s hands as he lifted me up from the silt in his arms.

I didn’t want to admit it, but after not seeing Layne for weeks, I was happy he was here. But the reality was that I also didn't have the energy to fight him today, and anything I had left in me bled out with the scream.

My body went limp in his arms as I rested my head against the broad plane of his chest. I missed this more than I’d like to admit.

He's so warm, I thought, pressing my ear against him as I listened to the abnormal rhythmic beat of his heart. It was unnatural, like everything else about him, but there was something soothing about it, though.

So you do have a heart. Surprising.

A weak smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. I craned my head up to find his gaze already fixed on me, a flicker of concern behind the blaze of his eyes.

“What happened?” His voice was quiet, lacking the usual snarky edge. “Are you hurt?”

I pressed my hands into Layne’s chest, the muscles pushing back like a brick wall. “Put me down,” I rasped. “I’m fine.”

“As you wish, princess.”

He carried me toward the drowned tree, lowering me gently against the base of the trunk. My back nestled into the familiar decay of its barnacle-crusted bark as his shadows returned back to their master.

Instead of his usual flashy magic or manspreading on his shadowed throne, he stayed close, with a watchful gaze, as if I might break at any moment. And maybe I would.

Layne kneeled in front of me, his massive frame dwarfing everything around us. He was close enough that I could see the thrum of blood flowing through his dark veins that threaded across his chest, though they were fainter than ever. Close enough to feel the heat radiating from him that hadn't been there before. Or maybe it had, but I’d never noticed.

“Well,” I gestured weakly, my voice still raw. “What do you want to know? I’m sure you’ve seen everything.” I hardly had the energy to roll my eyes, despite the urge.

Layne didn’t respond, just watched me, golden eyes searching my face. When he finally spoke, the usual charm was gone, and instead…he sounded hurt.

“Two weeks, Evelyn.” His gaze narrowed, and I could barely look back at him. “I felt you up there feeding, and every time you surfaced. Why didn’t you come back home?”

Home. The word made my stomach churn. Something about it felt so wrong and right at the same time.

Layne’s shadows betrayed any emotions he was trying to hide, coiling tighter around his form.

“I…just, needed some space, Layne.”

“Space,” he spat. “You needed space from me, but not him?” He rolled his eyes.

There it was, underneath all the shadows and shrouded theatrics, was something real. I just didn’t expect it to be so…human.

Jealousy, cutting right through his own darkness. I’d hurt Layne Murrows by choosing Ethan’s company over his, and no amount of power could hide the sting of it.

What I didn’t expect was the guilt, and how much I liked seeing him like this—about me, for me.

“Layne, I⁠—”

“Stop.” He turned his head, jaw clenched. “I know you kissed the boy. That was a foolish mistake, Evelyn.”

It was a mistake…and yet…

Two weeks of no contact, and of course, that was the thing he sank his teeth into. “Again, his name is Ethan,” I growled, turning my back to him. “And, yes…we did.” I was glad he couldn't see the look on my face.

“Why would you do that to yourself?” His voice was sharp. “I told you the rules of the curse were ironclad.” He rested his hand on my shoulder as his words hung in the air.

No excuse or defense came to me. It was stupid and careless, but I’d done it anyway.

I turned back to face him, my head dropping. “You’re right…” I said, expecting the usual eruption of anger, for the shadows that undulated around him to flare up and engulf me at any moment.