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He’d never experienced this phenomenon before and neither had anyone he’d ever touched. His kind—I don’t even know what they’re called—only have one true mate in their lives.

Absolute certainty, the kind that makes true belief a heady experience, is mine.

I’m Nico’s one true mate.

Forever.

Chapter55

Nico

Lady Bianca, do you perchance recall our phone conversation yesterday?

Standing in Bianca’s bedroom, trusting that she would see past my fur and horns, fangs and tail, to the monster who already adored her—hope was born in that moment. Hope is with me still, but it’s now irrevocably bound to agony.

That’s what this place is, a treacherous assault on the belief that anything good ever happened in our lives. But gooddidhappen in my life. It took its time in reaching me, but it finally happened. She happened, and for her, I am here.

I can still feel her, her fingers playing with my fur as we sat at her table in her partially packed home. She never released me from the moment we made contact. She trusted me. Accompanied me. Left her world for mine. She tested my trust of her and something changed between us after that. The weight of her body in my arms as I carried her. Her tears. Mine. Connection.

Is that why I remember her when everything else has been swallowed by the darkness? Memories of warmth toy with me, but I can’t make anything out, only Bianca. Her name is etched so deeply no force can erase it. Her beautiful face remains in my mind, even in this waking nightmare that robs us of our senses.

“Nico… Nico, I’m fighting for you.”

I can hear her lilting voice, but I attempt to shove it away. I don’t want herhere. I don’t want her to even imagine this hell that’s now my life.

“Nico, I love you. Ifeelyou. I need you back. I went to jail for you, buddy, so clearly, it’s time to come home.”

Jail?

What jail?

Thequeen’sjail?! Images of that place assail me.

“Bianca,” I think because I don’t dare speak and assist my fellow prisoners in discerning my location. They will find me—they always find me—but I must delay them.

“Nico… are you there?”

“I’m here… I love you. Jail?”

“Your queen is prissier than Archie.”

“Archie… who’s Archie?”

“Oh, Nico, don’t forget us. We love you. We’re fighting for you. Pennie, Archie, Bastien, and me… Bianca—your family.”

“I know you. I could never forget you. I love you.”

I hear the snarling as they near and then they’re on me again, tearing and stabbing and delivering their retribution.

I don’t make a sound. I don’t wish to frighten my beloved Bianca. But then I hear her scream and force our link to sever, though the sound of her pained cry will never leave me. It will echo forever, an unimaginably distressing reminder of the cost of reaching for stolen joy, when my duty is to accept what is and will always be.

My beloved will only be safe if I let her go… forever.

Chapter56

Pennie

I’m already awake when our Bianca’s tortured scream fills the dungeon. Then she’s sobbing uncontrollably. A dream—was it another dream? A nightmare? Or is this something more?