Page 163 of The Hunter's Empire

I shake my head. "You were insufferable."

"So were you."

For the first time since he started talking, the corner of his mouth lifts ever so slightly.

"You questioned everything I said. You argued with me over the smallest things. Every time I thought I understood you, you proved me wrong." He pauses, exhaling quietly. "You drove me insane."

"And yet..." His smile slowly fades. "Somewhere along the way, I stopped seeing Marcus Krogen's daughter."

His voice softens. "I started seeing the woman standing in front of me. You became Zora... You became my little Elf."

The nickname, which usually makes me roll my eyes, only makes my heart ache.

"I kept telling myself what I felt would pass." He continues. "That once the mission was over, I'd remember why I came into your life in the first place. But Ireland became the island. The island became Elysian Haven. Every day I spent with you made revenge feel less like justice and more like something that belonged to a version of me I barely recognized anymore."

"Somewhere along the way..." His voice is barely above a whisper. "Revenge stopped feeling as simple as it once had."

He draws a slow breath. "Every plan I'd spent months convincing myself was justified... started feeling wrong."

"I'm sorry." I whisper, my throat tightening.

His eyes lift to mine.

"I'm sorry that my dad took yours away from you. I'm sorry you spent years believing a lie he created. And I'm sorry you had to carry that grief alone."

He shakes his head almost immediately. "You don't owe me an apology."

"I know I didn't do it." I say quietly. "But I hate that the man who did... was my dad."

A shadow of sadness crosses his face. "So do I."

Neither of us speaks after that. The silence between us is heavy, filled with too many truths for either of us to carry alone.

Before either of us can find the words to break the silence, my phone begins ringing on the kitchen counter. The sudden sound pulls both of us from our thoughts. I glance at the screen.

Sebastian.

After several seconds of hesitation, I answer. "Hello?"

There's a brief pause before he speaks. "I've had time to think."

His voice is noticeably calmer than it had been the night before.

"I owe you an apology. I lost control yesterday. There's no excuse for the way I spoke to you... or for the way I drove."

I remain silent, waiting for him to continue.

"I'd like to apologize properly." He says. "Can you come to the office? Just the two of us."

My eyes lift instinctively to Nico. He hasn't moved. He's watching me, his jaw set, reading my expression rather than trying to influence it.

"I think we owe each other one honest conversation." Sebastian continues. "Whatever happens after this, I'd rather we end it face to face than over the phone."

The sincerity in his voice makes it difficult to know what to believe.

"I'll think about it." I say quietly.

"Please." He says gently. "Come now. The longer we leave this, the harder it's going to become."