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No. He didn’t see that.

Please tell me he didn’t see that.

“I’m not his…” I failed to finish the sentence. “Where is he?”

“Saw you. Saw you. Saw you,” Aidan chanted. “Poor Silvanus. I wonder what’s going on in that head of his. A fool for love. Love’s fool. Never the object of the full affection, is he? Only gets halfway there.” He tutted. “I’d know, from being on the receiving end of his obsessions.”

Why did he have a tongue? Why did I have to listen to his bullshit?

“He isn’t exactly worthy, though,” he rambled on, throwing extra fuel on my rage. “A wishy-washy pain in the backside. Too whiny for me.”

The crystal blade manifested, replacing the stakeblade. “Get the fuck out of this house.”

Aidan pointed at the hole. “Silvanus is down there. Pondering…” He retched but quickly recovered. “Pondering your tryst with the wolf. Hopefully.”

A wall collapsed in my head, allowing a tide to collide with my reason. In that moment, only Silvanus mattered.

He heard.

He saw.

I needed to make it better.

Dammit! He had to know that wasn’t me, but a twisted spell by Aidan to get his kicks. He had to keep seeing me in the same light he always did. The warm, beautiful light I kept hiding from for his own safety, for my own peace of mind.

Loving him wouldn’t be right.

Not loving him wouldn’t be right.

The blade vanished, my hands trembling.

I have to see him.

I jumped into the hole, a sharp edge nicking my left cheek.

“Paris!” Declan called.

I landed in a smooth crouch, feeling a presence straight away in the darkness to my right.

“Paris…” Silvanus rasped. “What are you doing?”

An iron tightness crushed my chest, my heart jackhammering, my insides wild and churning.

“It wasn’t me,” I whispered, hands finding his arm. “I’m so sorry. It wasn’t me.” Tears broke free, leaving hot tracks down my cheeks.

“Paris, I…” He groaned.

My hands slid up his arms, finding his face. “I’m here.”

Man, his silky skin sent shockwaves of relief through me.

A hand curled around my wrist. “You’re here.”

Damn. The tears, the hiccup of my heart. The anguish, the desperation, the warmth pooling in my belly and sending out more waves of emotional chaos.

“It wasn’t me,” I repeated. “I didn’t want to kiss Declan. I don’t want to kiss anyone else but you.” I knew I should stop, but the words tumbled out. “You’re my constant.” I sniffled, my breath so shaky I wasn’t sure I could continue.

Silvanus groaned, the sound laced with pain.