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If we made it through this, I prayed I could always remind him that I loved him for who he was, not what he provided.

His mother slid that knife against his throat and a tiny red line appeared. “Give it to me.”

I shuddered. My bones jangled with alarm as I waited for my opening.

While his mother threatened Voski as he lay in the dirt, only half-conscious—but clung to me in the link—I took what he’d given me, what I’d coiled and braided together, and rolled it into a cloud. No, a storm.

And I knew. Thank God, I knew.

Shaking my head, I let my voice drop to a husky rasp. “You want this sick darkness?”

Her eyes widened. “Yes.”

“Let him go and I’ll give it to you.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Give it to me and I’ll let him go.”

“Does his life mean nothing to you?” I whispered.

She held my gaze for a moment as if she considered, then answered honestly. “Not as much as that power,” she admitted.

I smiled through my tears. “You see? Even in this, you can’t love.” I raised my voice for any of the watchers who remained. “None of you love. Ever. And that will be your downfall.” Please, may I see this clearly. Please don’t let me empower her further. I locked eyes with her again. “He’s not like you. He loves. I love him, and he loves me. We trust. We know.”

“You know nothing!”

“I know your weapons can’t stand in the face of what we have. Even if you take all this power, from everyone. You won’t be able to defeat us. I’ll prove it to you.”

She pressed that blade a hair deeper on his neck. “How?”

Stupid, evil woman. “I’ll give up first. I’ll trust first. Because I love him. I’d rather have him powerless than not at all. I’ll hand you every ounce, every whisper. I’ll cling to none of it. Because I love him. And I need him. And I’d rather have him without this, than keep it for myself.”

Her eyes widened and she swallowed, but her hand didn’t waver on that knife. “Give it to me. I’ll take it. All of it. And you can take him. I don’t care. I’ll make another Heir.”

I knew the lie for what it was. She expected to take an Heir. From us.

I almost laughed. “Here. Have it.” Then, I put a hand to her arm and poured that power into her, with love.

Love for my mate.

Love for the man who’d saved my life.

Love for his integrity and strength and willingness to grow.

Love for who he was, his character, his desire to become something better.

And love for him. Simple, pure, love that would remain for as long as I drew breath.

That flood of power that had coursed through me with such might my skin struggled to contain it, rose in a wave against the barrier I placed before it, threatening to break the dam. But just as I thought I’d lose my grip, just when I feared I’d miscalculated, it sucked back… then began to roar back out to her.

Lady Ashford spasmed. Her mouth dropped open, and she shook.

I gave her more.

More.

Take it. All of it. In love.

Her head fell back in ecstatic joy… then she gasped… and her face screwed up tight.