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“No,” Godric says bluntly, then yanks him along.

“You’re enjoying this far too much,” the royal grumbles, and I frown as I follow.

It’s not like Godric to be petty.

If I know the pack master at all—and by now, I feel like I do—he has a reason to keep Arwan restrained.

Steeling myself, I keep an eye on the empty cages and scan for Ze’ev.

Arwan jerks to a halt at the same time I spot a silhouette of a hooded figure in one of the cells.

“You have my shadow?” he snarls in a tone I’ve never heard from the royal before.

“Your soul,” Godric clarifies, confusing me further.

I glance between the two males, then glowing red eyes land on me, sucking all the breath from my lungs.

I’ve seen that gaze before.

Mesmerized, I step toward the gaze.

The chains around Arwan’s wrists jerk as he lunges for me, but Godric keeps him in place.

I stare as I reach through the bars. The dark figure with one white arm steps into the light.

He has Arwan’s face, but not his eyes.

This is his death. That’s the only way I can describe it.

“It appeared the moment Liliana’s ship arrived. My pack found it first. That’s what they brought me to the den to see upon my arrival, and we’ve kept it here ever since so that King Njord couldn’t take it.”

The dark version of Arwan wraps his fingers through mine, and ice chills all the way up my arm, but I take his grip and gaze into his eyes.

All I see is pain.

“That’s enough,” Godric says and then emits a low growl.

The dark spirit releases me and backs away, returning to the shadows.

“You could have killed me this entire time,” Arwan whispers as if pained. “Why didn’t you?”

Godric shakes his head. “Because I am not Ze’ev. I don’t blame you for everything that happened on his isle, like he does.”

The pain in his eyes betrays what he really believes.

He blames himself.

Agony twists inside my chest as Godric presses a hand to the small of my back and leads me deeper into the underground prison.

When we finally reach Ze’ev, he’s in a nicer version of a cage. The inside of the chamber has a bed, a bath, amenities, and running water, as well as a dresser and a plush rug that keeps all of the furniture away from the moisture.

Ze’ev isn’t on the bed. Instead, he is asleep on the floor. When he hears the chains, he shoots up and locks his gaze on me.

Godric takes a key from the wall and opens the lock. He shoves Arwan inside, then he glances at me. “Go on,” he says. “I’ll have to keep this locked until you’re ready to leave.”

I don’t understand why Godric is being like this, but the drive to wrap my arms around Ze’ev is too strong. Every fiber of my being screams to be reunited with him, and my lungs constrict as if I can’t dare to take another breath until I’m in his embrace.

Falling to the floor, Ze’ev catches me as I bury my nose in his neck and inhale.