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“Have you ever scorched an entire city? Swallowed living beings whole? Watched children running and known you couldn’t save them, couldn’t stop yourself from killing them?”

“No.” I was weeping. “But it wasn’t you who did that—it was Vorago. You wanted to stop him. I know you did.”

“I’m broken.” His voice was shaking. “I’m falling to pieces. I don’t know who I am. I don’t know what I’m doing. All I know is I need you to be safe. As for me, death is all I deserve. I should do it now, before Vorago can stop me.”

I moved. With whatever residual power of his blood left in me, with whatever fae power still filled me, I moved with highblood speed and rider reflexes, seizing him by the shoulders and yanking him down off the windowsill before he could even react.

He half sat, half lay on the floor, pushing himself up on his elbows. I lay there next to him, my hands flat against his chest. There was something infinitely powerful about the way our bodies touched. It went beyond words—and always had.

“You’re a part of me,” I whispered. “Don’t you know that?”

“Oh, Pendragon.” He sighed. Then he reached out a hand to brush my cheek. “We were always wrong together. Didn’t you try to tell me that, right from the start?”

“And you knew the truth. You always knew.”

“I … was wrong. I release you. I relinquish any claim to you. You’re free.”

“No,” I spat. “That’s not how this works. We’re bound, you and me. We don’t break that easily. This,” I said gesturing to him, then to myself, “this is forever. And you fucking know that.”

He stared at me. “I don’t know …”

“Then, let me tell you,” I snarled.“Let me tell you that I love you more than anything in this world or any other. I love you more than the sum of your sins. My heart chose you a long time ago. Maybe before I even got here.”The lump in my throat forced me to pause. “You make me feel like I’m falling, like I’m tearing apart at the seams. But free? I will never be free of you. I can’t be. I choose to be chained to you. I choose to be claimed. I would never choose to be free. Because this feeling is everything.You aren’t just in my heart—you are my heart.You are written in my blood.”

“Love,” Blake whispered.

“Yes.” I touched his face, trying to press my forehead against his.

He pushed me away. “Love doesn’t begin to describe what I feel for you.” He shook his head, his voice rough. “It’s harsher. Darker. It’s consuming me. I told you to go because I knew if you took one more step, I might never be able to let you leave.”

My throat tightened.

“I should scare you. After what I did tonight. I scare myself. I don’t deserve you. I don’t deserve the word love from your lips.”

“You don’t get to choose for me.” The words slipped out. “You don’t get to decide if you deserve love. You are loved. Whether you like it or not.”

“I’m a monster,” he whispered. “I’m not worthy of you.”

“You’re not a monster. But if you are, then I am, too. Your blood flows through my veins. And …”

The door burst open. Vaughn stood there. “I heard you talking,” he mumbled, his face stricken. “I didn’t want to believe it.”

“Believe what?” I stood up quickly, planting myself between Blake and the door.

“That you might be in here. With him. Just talking, when …” Too late, I saw he was shaking with rage.

“When what?” I demanded. “We have to start somewhere.”

“When you know what he’s done, Medra. Talking?” Vaughn shook his head, looking disgusted.“This is beyond a talking matter.”

“He’s done terrible things, but he didn’t want to do them. You know that. You know what he is to me. Please, he’s Theo’s cousin.”

“I know,” he whispered. “I’m so sorry.” Then he turned his head. “He’s here!” he yelled. “Come quickly! I’ve found him!”

“No!” I screamed, but the hall had already filled with pounding footsteps.

Professor Sankara appeared in the doorframe alongside Rodriguez. There were heavy chains in their hands.

I eyed them in horror. “What are you doing? This isn’t the way.”