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I stepped forward. “We need to talk.”

“We do. But not yet. I must return to the palace soon.” He took a step back from me. “There are people there who need me. Survivors, including Declan. I’ll bring them back here.”

The alpha werewolf with the dimples. Thank goodness.

“He’s alive?”

“Yes. I saved him from Aidan’s rot.” He told me about Selene and the power she’d given him.

My head almost imploded from the revelation. “You’re possessed by a deity?”

“Something we have in common.”

I released a long sigh. “I need a beer. What about those executioners?”

“Gone.” Sadness cast shadows across his features. “Only two thralls survived, so many vampires…the damage…” Tears of blood ran down his cheeks.

My heart contracted, my own eyes watering. So many dead, so many lost already at the palace and in the city. Reality caught up with me, churning, bitter, terrifying. Tears broke free, my mind a warzone of nastiness, the chains on my box already beginning to come undone.

And whoa. Seeing him cry? It turned me inside out and stomped on my soul.

“Paris?” he said.

I wiped at my eyes, my knees wobbly. “Shit. Sorry. I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

Stupid tears.

“How did you find me in Oreflame?” I asked.

He hesitated. “Because of my…confession. I can sense you, see you on a mental map.” He tapped at his head.

“Oh. A curse-related thing?”

“Remains to be seen, but I think so.”

His confession. His confession. His damn confession.

They were such amazing words to hear.

No, no, no. Stop. Just fucking stop.

He came to me, pulling me against his chest.

I wrapped my arms around him, too exhausted to pull away, too cold and lonely to ever let him go. Denial sucked, this whole situation sucked, and I needed to break free before something dangerous happened.

I skipped along dangerous ground here.

Get away.

Get away.

Get away.

“I need to lie down,” I said, resting the side of my head against his chest.

“I’ll take you to a hut.”

Dammit. He spoke with so much kindness, his voice the gentlest whisper. If he kept talking to me like that, I’d break and tell him I⁠—