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She is asking me to trust her.

Slowly, I lower Grant.

Release him.

He collapses onto the pavement, coughing and clutching his throat.

The obsidian spears stop growing.

The crimson fire beneath my skin begins to fade.

I kneel beside him.

Grant scrambles backward.

“Stay away from me!”

I lean closer.

My voice is deadly quiet.

“If you ever touch her again, you will discover how merciful I was tonight.”

He nods frantically.

I rise.

Turn my back on him.

And walk toward Wren.

She meets me halfway.

For a moment, neither of us speaks.

Then she places her hand against my chest.

“Thank you.”

I look down at her injured shoulder.

“I nearly killed him.”

“But you didn’t.”

“Because you asked.”

She nods.

“Because I asked.”

I close my eyes.

Her hand remains against my heart.

And for the first time in my existence, I feel something stronger than wrath.

Relief.