Page 40

Magnus had made it hurt. He’d ended Quinn’s life in pain and terror.

I watched everything that came after.

What had happened when Quinn woke up, confused and with no concept of what had happened or what it meant, the extent of what had been done to him. Though I wanted to turn away from what came next with Jimmy—somehow, the bond between us wordlessly told me the name of his old boss—I couldn’t do it.

Instead, what I saw broke my heart. I kept expecting to feel revulsion or fear—Quinn certainly expected me to—but instead, I felt a deep and keening sadness. It stayed with me as the visions continued.

None of this—not a single moment of it—had ever really been his fault. Or his choice.

He’d only regained his power to choose after meeting me for the first time. And everything he’d done since then had been understandable.

It had been deeply human, in fact.

Now you know, Quinn whispered once the visions had all ended. He sounded so broken. So lost.

I do.

If you’re afraid, I’d understand.

No. I’m pissed. I’d kill Magnus, if he wasn’t already dead.

Derek, I’m serious.

Neither of us really had form here, but I still took him by the shoulders anyway. I spoke the words directly into his mind.

So am I. Magnus did this to you. You never would have done any of it, unless he made you.

But I—I liked it. Deep down. I liked it.

So what? You have an aspect to your nature that’s probably biologically hardwired to enjoy hunting. Like a cat. Or just about any other predatory creature on earth. That doesn’t make you evil.

Derek—

This was something that was done to you. You had no power. The moment you could choose, you chose differently.

I’d seen what he’d done for Brent, as well. Quinn wasn’t a monster. He was the furthest thing from being a monster.

Do you trust me?

You know I do.

Then trust this: I experienced all of that with you. Every moment of it. Those instincts might be a small part of you, but they don’t define you. They’re not who you really are.

Some last little bit of his resistance gave way. I felt it happen.

The darkness dissolved, leaving us both on the bed, embracing each other, shaken and dazed.

“I want to believe you,” Quinn whispered. He touched my cheek and smiled at me, his eyes filled with emotion. “I really do.”

“Then trust me.”

He nodded, his gaze locked with mine. “Always.”

“I’ve got you. Through everything. No matter what else happens. I’ve got you, Quinn.”

He pressed his lips to mine. When he pulled back, he said, “I know. It’s just going to take some time.”

“That’s okay,” I said, wrapping my arms around him. The darkness in him hadn’t been completely banished. But its hold on him had loosened. And that was enough.