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“I knew Lily.”

“Don’t fucking say their names.”

“Why?”

I moved before I realized. One step. Rafe didn’t give me an inch.

“Because it hurts?” His voice was quieter now. “That’s the problem.”

My jaw ached.

“Because here’s the thing, Alaric. I remember it too.”

Silence.

His eyes held mine. “And somehow…”

A beat.

“… I survived knowing it.”

The words went straight through me.

I looked away. Couldn’t help it. Rafe saw. Of course he fucking saw.

“She isn’t you,” I said.

“No.”

“She’s already carrying enough.”

“She gets to decide that.”

“She doesn’t know what she’s asking for.”

Rafe stared at me.

And there it was.

The mistake.

I heard it as soon as the words left my mouth. So did he. His expression almost softened.

“Jesus, Alaric.”

“Fuck you.”

“No.” He shook his head. “You don’t get to turn this into anger because you’re scared.”

“I’m not scared.”

“Bullshit.”

I moved toward him.

He didn’t flinch. “You want to know what you’re protecting her from?”

“I know what I’m protecting her from.”