When his eyes flew open, she’d seen savagery,the likes of which she’d never witnessed before, in their silverdepths. She’d also seen an emptiness that turned her blood toice.
Before, when he looked at her, she alwaysfelt seen. But when he was choking her, he looked straight throughher to something else. She’d realized he could kill her withoutknowing it was her.
Her struggles had increased, and she’d beatagainst him, but it hadn’t lessened his hold. It wasn’t until shelanded a blow that shot his head back that he emerged from the gripof whatever controlled him.
She saw the clearing in his eyes and thedevastation on his face when he realized what he was doing beforehe released her.
And now, she saw the dejected despairenshrouding him. Whatever he’d been dreaming about, it stillhaunted him, and so did his actions.
Still, she couldn’t stay here. He’d nearlykilled her.
Her gaze traveled to the doorway as she edgedaround the bed. She couldn’t bring herself to look at him as shecompelled herself not to run for the door.
He’d leave tomorrow. She did not doubt it.Even if Brokk weren’t ready for travel, he would go after theevents of this night.
She ignored the sadness accompanying thisrealization. It would be better if he left. They should stop thistreacherous game they played, but she didn’t want him to go.
She told herself she wouldn’t look back, butwhen her hand fell on the knob, she couldn’t stop her gaze fromreturning to him. His shoulders tensed as another round of thunderboomed throughout the room.
Darkness descended before lightningilluminated the room in a series of flashes. She recalled listeningto the dragons as they ravaged the land. They sounded like this,and their fire had flashed over the walls the same way thelightning did.
Then she recalled his reaction when she askedhim if the war was horrible. She remembered his hesitation beforespeaking and the anguish on his face.
It had been the look of a man who hadcommitted and experienced atrocities she could never imagine. Ithad been the look of a man who hadn’t been broken by thoseatrocities, but they had forever altered him.
She hadn’t known Cole before the war, but shehad no doubt he wasn’t the same man now as he was then.
How could he be?
He’d lost most of his family during the warand more than a few friends.
Her hand fell away from the knob as heremained sitting with his shoulders hunched forward, his headbowed, and his hands gripping his knees. He’d terrified hertonight, but she couldn’t bring herself to walk away from him whilehe was like this.
After Orin, she should have learned herlesson about trying to help others, especially the dark fae, butshe found herself creeping toward him. Her mind screamed at her torun; this was a bad idea, but her heart and her feet propelled heronward.
He wasn’t Orin. He wasn’t an asshole whowould turn on her like a rabid dog.
This was Cole. This was the man she’d spentthe past few days getting to know better as they shared books anddiscussed their lives. This was the man who made her feel aliveevery time he touched her.
She briefly contemplated those who becameshadow kissed before pushing them aside. It was a fear for adifferent time. This moment was only for them.
She would have asked him again what he wasdreaming about when he attacked her, but she already knew theanswer. He was lost to the nightmare of war, and she so badlywanted to find him.
When she stopped before him, his shoulderstensed as if he expected a blow and his hands tightened on hisknees.
Unsure of what to do, she remained where shewas. She’d been so certain while crossing the room, but now doubtwiggled its way in to fester at her mind.
He was a powerful, immortal being who waswell versed in all the realms, and she was… well, she washer. She lived and worked on her small manor, her liferevolved around her family, and she’d only ever left the mortalrealm once in her life.
What could she possibly offer him?
Lightning flashed around the room again, andwhen he lifted his head, his silver eyes met hers. In his gaze, shesaw such a mixture of distress and hope that melted her doubts.
He was the most powerful being she’d everencountered, yet there was something broken about him, somethingshe longed to heal. She wasn’t entirely sure how to do that, butsome instinctive part of her told her she could.
She was a simple, not-so-powerful immortal,but she could offer him exactly what he needed…. She could help himheal.
When she cupped his cheek in her palm, hisbeard rubbed against her skin.
