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I stared at the counter. The sink. The darkness beyond the window. Then turned and walked out. My footsteps were too loud. So was the creak of the front door as I pulled it open.

Cold air struck my face.

I headed outside and scanned the estate.

Stopped.

My vision was coming back.

Not all of it. Not yet. But the shapeless blur of the grounds had started separating into edges. Stone from shadow. Trees from sky. The hard line of the boundary wall in the distance.

More of the world returned every day.

Once, I would’ve given anything for this.

Tonight…

I barely fucking cared.

Brick had already cleared the southern boundary. Ghost had checked every room twice. Falcon watched from above. Knock had torn through the security system.

Still…

I walked.

Window.

Door.

Every possible way into Blackthorn. Searching for something six trained men had already proven wasn’t there. Because finding the Clove Man was easier than admitting I knew exactly where the real threat was.

Upstairs.

Behind a closed bedroom door.

And I’d put it there myself.

A shadow shifted. Black on black. I knew the sound of his breathing better than my own.

“Third time.”

I turned. Rafe stood beneath the terrace.

“What?”

“You’ve checked that window three fucking times.”

I looked back at it.

“Go inside, Alaric.”

“I’m working.”

“No. You’re hiding.” He took a step from the shadows. Dark eyes found mine. “You can’t guard a woman from you.”

I stopped.

Hated him.