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“We’re not,” Tyrell said. Theyetwas heavily implied in his dark tone.
Grayson’s eyes narrowed. “Mia, go inside.”
Pleasehad clearly lost its power. She crossed her arms over her chest and tried a different tactic. “There’s no point in fighting. It will only bring Henri’s attention back to us.”
The two youngest Kaelin princes eyed her, but she refused to back down—or acknowledge the silent message they were both sending with their hard expressions.
Logic alone would not work on them. She sighed, and let honesty ring in her voice. “If you hurt each other, you’ll only be hurting me.”
Tyrell’s teeth clenched.
Grayson looked just as unhappy. He breathed out slowly and took Mia’s hand, tugging her into the room without another word.
Tyrell remained in the hall. When Mia glanced back at him, a fissure of emotion cracked in his eyes as he stared after her.
Grayson closed the door.
Mia swallowed roughly. Her voice was low as she said, “I’m not in any danger from him.”
Grayson met her gaze. “You said you weren’t sure if he was still your friend.”
That last word was spoken heavily, not that she could blame him. And he was right; she didn’t know what relationship she and Tyrell had now. He had declared his love for her, and she’d told him there could only be friendship between them. He’d lied to her about sending her letter to Grayson, and she’d yelled at him. He’d saved her from Mama’s abduction attempt—then Grayson had returned.
Things were complicated with Tyrell, but she knew one thing, so she repeated it: “He won’t hurt me.”
The hard planes of Grayson’s face revealed nothing, but a hundred questions lurked in his eyes. He didn’t voice any of them. She’d told him she wasn’t ready to talk about what had happened between her and Tyrell, and she knew Grayson wouldn’t press.
But, fates, he looked exhausted. And he was clearly in pain.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, her eyes darting to his jaw.
His expression locked. “You have nothing to apologize for,” he said, his words a little rough as he tried not to move his newest scar. “What happened in that cell had nothing to do with you.”
But it did.
He wouldn’t have even been in there if not for her. He’d come back to Ryden to rescue her. And that burn . . . he’d taken it for her. Grayson had allowed himself to be tortured—without being restrained—so she wouldn’t have to wear that burn.
Her heart squeezed painfully. Fates, it was always the same with them. He sacrificed everything for her, and she could do nothing to protect him.
“Mia?”
She startled from her thoughts. Grayson watched her with concern, his head ducked slightly so he could catch her eye.
Moving slowly, with infinite care so she wouldn’t jostle him, she wrapped her arms around his waist and eased herself against him, her cheek pressed to his chest. “Thank you,” she whispered.
His arms locked around her shoulders, pulling her even closer. “For what?”
“For protecting me. Again.” Her voice broke, but she forced herself to continue. “I’m sorry you had to. I’m sorry your father hurt you again, because of me—”
“No.” Grayson leaned back, one hand shifting to curve against her cheek. His thumb grazed her jaw, coaxing her to lift her head. “There’s no guilt for you to carry. My father has never needed an excuse to hurt me.”
Henri didn’t need an excuse, it was true. But he’d been hurting Grayson and manipulating him for years by threatening her. That truth was inescapable, and it hurt.
I’m your weakness.
She couldn’t even make herself say the words, and that made her a coward. But resolution burned in her heart.I won’t always be your weakness.
Grayson studied her, his gray eyes unwavering. “I would make the same choice again,” he told her. “To protect you, I would do it again—a thousand times, without hesitation.”
