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I take a step towards him. “You lying fucking cunt.”

He smirks, hidden behind his two men.

“Edwin…” Her voice stops me.

She looks up at me, searching for refuge. Needing me to burn this place down to save her.

I turn to Liam in desperation. “She has my medallion. She can use that.”

His face tightens. “I’m afraid that’s not possible after she’s already used one.”

The last door closes.

I feel it. She feels it too.

“Fuck.” My voice cracks. My hands shake. “If you kill her, you’re going to have to kill me too. I’m done. I quit the fucking Order.”

“No.” Her voice is stronger than mine. “You don’t get to escape your feelings. You don’t get to die with me because it’s easier.”

The thought of running seems to pass through her mind. Her eyes flick to the doors. To the balcony. To anywhere but here.

Then she takes a deep breath.

“I don’t want to die,” she says.

My heart stops.

She swallows hard, steadying herself. “But I won’t beg.”

A stillness takes over her body, and her eyes lock on mine. The dead look in them cuts deeper than any scream.

“I’ll go willingly.”

My eyes burn. I clench my jaw and shake my head. “No.”

“This place gave me an extra month when I likely would have died the night I got here.” She looks at Patrick to make her point.

Then her eyes come back to mine. Cold and clear with the betrayal she never expected from me.

“I accept death,” she says, “because ultimately it’s going to hurt you, Edwin.”

A fist might as well have slammed into my ribs.

She lifts her chin, but I can see the frantic pulse in her throat, pumping adrenalized fear through her body.

“Your selfish indulgence will be the end of you,” she goes on, and her voice doesn’t shake. “But not for a long, long time. You’re going to live the rest of your life remembering how happy you were when it was—”

She cuts herself off, blinking back tears.

“When it was only you and me.”

Tears prick my eyes.

“Zaiya,” I plead. “Don’t.”

I pull her against me, crushing her to my chest, desperate to keep her. At first, she grips my cloak. Then she pushes me away until her arms are fully extended.

“Let me go.” Her voice cracks on the whispered plea.