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Lucan wished to drop to his knees then and there and confess every sin in his long life to Elarian. Wished to feel her wrath wash over him until it stripped him bare. He deserved every word, every look of hatred, every vile action sent his way for the centuries of hurt he had caused upon the world. But the one thing he couldn’t do was tell Elarian that he cared about her, and that now a far more ruthless hunter had her in his sights.

“No.”

The answer came immediately. Her eyes narrowed.

“Then why?”

Lucan forced himself to meet her gaze because if he looked away, he would certainly break.

“Because your task is complete.”

Silence.

“Elarian, please do not fight me. He is coming.” Lucan choked on the name rising in his throat. “Aurelion is coming.”

The name settled between them like a curse.

“He will be here within days.” Lucan stepped closer, every word becoming sharper as he forced himself into the familiar shape of the monster. “Do you understand what that means, assassin? What he does to moon elves like you? You think my punishment has been unbearable…”

Elarian’s expression hardened.

“I know what is coming.”

“No, you don’t.” His voice rose. “You think this is another enemy you can stab in the dark? Another foolish vampire you can kill while he turns his back to you? Aurelion does not fight like that.”

The room trembled faintly.

“He does not need armies, or weapons, or even the curse of the gods themselves. He does not need anyone but himself.” Lucan swallowed. “And when he sees you standing here bearing my mark, veins coursing with my blood?”

A flicker of fear crossed her face.

There.

There it was: the thing he hoped would save her foolish life.

“He will kill you.”

Elarian’s chin lifted.

“Then let him try.”

Something inside Lucan snapped. “Still so determined to die. Why, Elarian? Why did you fucking come here and stay your silver yet again? Do you enjoy this? Do you want to lose yourself to this wretched curse as I have?”

The words were cruel, yet still, he continued.

“Do you think I don’t know that look? That same empty expression you wore every time you came for me in the Evermist? Every time you threw yourself into death’s path because some part of you hoped it would finally be enough?”

Her face paled.

“Stop.”

But Lucan couldn’t; because if he stopped, he would fall to his knees, throw himself at her feet, and proclaim that dying with her in his arms was the best future they could hope to ask for.

“You were never afraid of dying, Elarian. You were waiting for it.”

Her eyes glistened, and he almost stopped.

Then he remembered Aurelion.