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His gaze travelled over me. Not my body. The book. He saw it. Paused. Something like satisfaction flickered through his expression and then disappeared.

“You made your choice, Nyssa.”

I lifted my chin as Alaric’s voice filled my head.

They won’t expect you to fight back… that’s where they die.

My heartbeat steadied. He’d taught me that.

Alaric.

Not this monster.

Whatever waited beneath this building, whatever truth he thought would bring me to my knees, he’d forgotten one thing. I’d survived him before.

And I could survive him again.

“No.”

The Clove Man waited.

I tightened my hold on The Phantom.

“I chose the truth.”

Silence.

His gaze returned to mine. “And Alaric?”

Pain hit deep. I refused to give it to him. “This isn’t about him.”

The whistle slipped through another breath.

“Everything is about him now.”

My heart stumbled. “What does that mean?”

He said nothing.

Of course.

Anger burned through fear.

“You said you wanted to tell me.”

Still nothing.

I stepped closer.

He didn’t move.

“You tore apart my life.”

Another step.

“You invaded my home.”

Another.