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“You really are a parasite. You need me to come back to Sister’s Edge so that Kade can continue to exist, so I have some life in me, and you can benefit. If I go back to Sister’s Edge and live an empty life, it benefits you.”

He nodded, but now he wouldn’t meet her eyes.

“Connor was my choice for you,” Tawk said softly. “I know you can never love him, and so the curse will be dead for your generation, but he could give you offspring, and you could have something to take care of. A half-life is better than a destroyed life.”

“If I have children, they will be cursed, Tawk,” she whispered thickly. She held up the locket in front of her throat. “Why would I do this to them?”

“He will die,” Tawk murmured. “Kade will die. The locket is already engaged with your feelings for him.” He held his hands out, beseeching her. “Don’t you see, if you love him, you have to let him go?”

And damn it all, Tawk, that fucking parasite, he was right. He was making sense. She knew it to be true, but the thought of leaving Kade was so painful inside of her chest.

“Connor is waiting,” Tawk told her. “He’s on the rise for ranks, and there aren’t any other females that would work for what Sister’s Edge needs. He will forgive all of this, and he will cut you, and follow through with the Promise.”

“He knows about the curse?” she asked, disgusted even entertaining this idea.

“Let Kade find a mate who won’t kill him.”

The burning tears that had rimmed her eyes threatened to spill over, and now it was her turn to drop her gaze, so he wouldn’t see the heartbreak on her face. “I didn’t mean to fall,” she whispered.

“It’s not your fault.”

She huffed a thick laugh, and for a split second, she could see why her mother had worked so hard to stay numb. This pain was too much.

“Let Connor cut your hand, and things will get easier. Break any bond to Kade and watch the locket stop glowing.”

Jess buried her face in her hands as the tears started to stream. “I like the way he makes me feel.”

“I can imagine,” Tawk murmured. “I don’t bond to people like that, but I can imagine.”

She stood, feeling like she was drowning. “Then it’s you I’ll cut. You’ll never have a feeling for me, and I’ll never respect you, parasite. No kids ever. I’m not choosing Connor. I want my own place on the edge of Derek’s territory, and you will live separately from me. Make sure I never come back for Kade. Keep him safe from me. Do the job your people are supposed to do.” She lifted her chin into the air, knowing her life would never have meaning again. “Protect me from Sister’s Edge. It’s the only way I’ll come back.”

Tawk stared at her for a three count, rubbing the palm of the hand she would cut.

Slowly, he dipped his chin.

And this was it. This was the moment her life ended.

It was the moment hope left her.

It was the moment she took her power back from the curse.

It would never take Kade.

Even if it hurt every day for the rest of her life, Jess would make sure he still existed.

Chapter Fourteen

Kade checked his phone for the hundredth time.

The good morning text had been ignored, so he’d texted again a few hours later just checking in. It had been ignored too.

Maybe she was freaking out about what they’d done last night. Maybe she needed some space, or maybe she had gone up to Cliff’s to start training early, or something.

The scar on his hand was on fire, and he rubbed it with his thumb, trying to fix it.

The workday was eternal.

The second his shift let off, he bolted for the door and made it into his truck before Cash could catch up and ask a bunch of questions. He just wanted to see Jess, and hug her, and tell her whatever was going on in her head was okay, and figure out what she needed.