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Ezra looks away from me, but not before I see his eyes shine.

“And I’m still fucking here.”

Jesus.

“Ezra…”

“No.” Now he’s the one backing away. “You want to know why I’m angry?”

Holy shit.

“I’m angry because I know exactly what it does.” He looks at Malakai, then Rhett, and finally me. “It takes something beautiful and makes you hate yourself for surviving it.” Then he turns away.

No one speaks.

For once, Rhett doesn’t have a joke and Malakai doesn’t offer some cryptic piece of ancient wisdom. I don’t know what to say.

Then Rhett’s heart beats hard. We all hear it.

Thump.

Ezra turns. Rhett grips his chest.

Another.

THUMP.

He bends forward.

“Rhett?” I reach him and his hand catches my shoulder.

“I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine.”

“It’s beating too hard.”

Malakai is already moving.

He grabs Rhett’s wrist and turns it toward the light, his attention locking on the mark.

Then his entire body goes still.

“Fuck.”

I raise a brow. “What?”

He doesn’t answer.

“Kai,” I growl.

“His mark is changing.”

I look down.

The word Given darkens beneath Rhett’s skin.

Then it moves.