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“I did.”

My grip loosens.

“But you invited me.”

I look at the gold ribbon. Sloane notices.

“Take it.”

My fingers close around the silk. All I have to do is untie it. One simple pull. The hunt ends. Sloane becomes a woman free to walk through the chapel doors and return to a life that doesn’t include me. I release the ribbon.

“No.”

Her eyes narrow.

“You spent a year planning to catch me.”

“I caught you.”

“Then take your prize.”

“You are not a prize.”

“What am I?”

The answer comes before I can make it safer.

“Mine.”

Silence. Sloane’s lips part. I force myself to continue.

“Tonight. Inside this chapel. Within the limits we negotiated. You are mine because you chose to be.”

I touch the ribbon again.

“But if I remove this, the hunt ends.”

“And you don’t want that.”

“I don’t want sunrise.”

Something in her expression changes. She places her palm against my chest.

“You told me I could leave.”

“You can.”

“Would you let me?”

Every violent instinct inside me screams no. The truth matters more.

“I would open the door myself.”

Sloane studies me. Then she grips my shirt and pulls me closer. Her mouth hovers beneath the stitched smile of my mask.

“But you’d follow me.”

“Everywhere.”