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Now that his nerves had settled, he thought back to what she said about him breaking her, destroying her. They’d ruined each other all those years ago.

“She came to you first.”

Hel pulled the civar and blew out a stream of smoke. “And?”

“She thought she was about to die, and she came toyou.”

His heart skipped. “Because she needed me to help her.”

“We almost lost her, Hel. Again.”

“I was in the same room.” Hel watched a set of guards walking the path far below.

“She’s not safe here.”

“As I’ve stated.”

A long pause and then he said, “Take her away.”

Hel stilled with his civar halfway to his mouth. He turned and stared at his cousin, clearly so in love with Hel’s mate. His bright green eyes were bloodshot. Shadows existed under them, shadows he hadn’t noticed before. Dark stubble from days of not shaving grew unmanaged. Even his hair wasn’t sleek and styled as usual. And in that moment Hel realized War was a better person than he’d ever be.

“I can’t keep her safe here,” War said. “But you can.”

Hel turned away. “She’s not going to accept it.”

War grabbed him by the front of his shirt. “She almost turned into a pale one. You said you sent them away and told them not to attack.”

“I did but many of them are barely more than rabid animals. They can’t be completely controlled. You should know that as much as anyone.” Hel’s scowl traveled from the fist clenched around his top to War’s face. “And let go of me.”

His grip loosened and he dropped his hand. “It doesn’t matter anyway. If that didn’t get her, the demon prince will or another assassin and until she remembers, until she’s Valeen again… you have to take her and keep her safe. Train her. Make her remember. You even said it yourself, I’m the one holding her back.”

Hel took a deep inhale of his civar.Fucking underrealm.“I’ll come back when she’s ready.” But taking her away meant leaving War vulnerable. The council might change their target. And even if he was still bitter at him for everything, he needed him.

He cared for him.

“I’ll have to leave Varlett here with you. She might be the only one strong enough to help you fight a demon prince other than me.”

“Fine.”

“You must be the one to tell Val. She’ll fight me.”

He nodded somberly. “I will.”

* * *

LAYALA

Layala quickly toweldried off and ran her fingers over the new rune mark at the top of her thigh. Was it permanent? It looked similar to a five-pointed star with a crescent moon through the center. If it was, at least it was pretty, and a permanent mark was better than being a pale one.

She shook her head at her own stupidity and slipped fresh clothes on. Piper left her to bathe alone but probably wasn’t far.

On her way out of the room, she caught her reflection in the mirror and halted.Is that…she was inches from the mirror in a few steps, tugging at the white chunk of her hair, from the top of her forehead framing her face, all the way to the end of her strands at her hips.How the hell am I going to explain this?She groaned and tucked her hair behind her ear. Maybe Hel could fix it.

Piper paced the hallway and looked up with sorrow. “I’m so sorry, Layala.”

“Don’t blame yourself. If it’s anyone’s fault, it’s mine. I shouldn’t have hesitated.” She sighed. “I need to thank Hel.”

Piper nodded and slid down the wall to sit against it with her knees up to her chest.