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Duncan offered a hand to me, and then his other to Erix.

“Althea,” Gyah said in reminder, brow creased over storm-filled eyes. “That is where our focus must be. Not Cassial, but Althea.”

A thrum of emotion filtered over the crowd. Duncan fixed his gaze to Gyah and then to Seraphine. Although the space was silent, not a word spoken aloud, I saw the slight widening of Seraphine’s eyes and got the impression of a message being shared between them.

She nodded, in agreement it would seem, then took Gyah to the side and whispered something to her.

Duncan squeezed my hand, then said twodistractingwords. “Shall we?”

I couldn’t form a reply for fear I would break down. Instead, I took his hand and melted into the warmth of him. My palm tickled against the residue of his power – like called to like.

I longed to say something, but I couldn’t force the words out.

“I’m sorry I had to leave you both this morning,” Duncan said to me, his voice back to his normal self. “As you can imagine, I had some business to take care of.”

I swallowed hard, the sound audible even as the roar of Nephilim took flight around us. “I can see that.”

“But I’m back, and no longer is my focus split.”

“For the record,Duncan,” Erix said from my side, laying his hand in Duncan’s waiting palm. “My wingspan is definitely larger than yours. Not that it’s a competition or anything.”

“Is that so?” Duncan’s brow lifted in jest, turning his attention to me. Altar, his smirk had the power to warm my insides. “What doyouthink, darling?”

Heat unravelled in my groin, hot and sudden.

“Careful with your answer, little bird,” Erix warned, mischief simmering in his silver eyes.

I gathered the confidence to address Duncan. And when I managed to get the words out, I spoke with the one emotion that came naturally. With the same sarcasm that always rose as a shield in times when I needed it. “Ask me after I get the chance to investigate for myself.”

CHAPTER 26

I stood between the two most important men in my life, finally facing the possibility that I could accept them both equally.

Duncan stood to my left, his white wings folded, his exposed stomach hardened with rejuvenated muscles. A handful of downy feathers had fallen beside his feet, blanketing the stone floor in a carpet of soft white.

Erix waited at my right. I watched the trickling sweat roll down his temple, wanting to reach up and clean it for him. My desire to tell him that his hesitance was not warranted burned on the tip of my tongue.

But how could I say that, when I shared in the feeling?

Part of me wanted nothing more than to beg them both to close the space between us and touch me. I craved it.Desperately. But it was as if we each waited for the verbal consent to take this first frightening – but thrilling – step.

“So, Duncan,” Erix said, peering to him. “You are a Nephilim now?”

Duncan’s wings shivered as if they were sentient and understood Erix. He looked down at this new body, then back to Erix. “I suppose that is part of it. As well as the fact I’m still myself. Human. And I have fey blood pumping through my heart too. Bit of a monster, I guess.”

“They say that a cat has nine lives, and here you are already proving you’ve got at least more than two,” Erix added with a light laugh

Duncan’s warm chuckle rumbled across the room in response, dusting over my skin. “What can I say, I have a lot to live for.”

His eyes fell on me, snatching my breath out of my lungs.

“The prophesied Saviour,” I announced, aware of just how odd the words sounded in my mouth. “Besides the wings and your new title, dare I ask what else has changed?”

Duncan refused to take his eyes off me. I fought against the urge to look down, worried at what his answer might be.

“Nothing else of merit. I’m still the same man, just with some added limbs,” Duncan said, stepping into me. He swept a hand through his dark wash of hair, brushing the strands away from his eyes. “I’ve been given another chance at life, and this time I refuse to waste it.”

“I – I still can’t believe this.” The words came tumbling out of me. “It feels like I’m dreaming.”