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“Did you enjoy your walk?” he asks. The tone of his voice caresses my senses like a lover’s touch.

“I did. Myerdoth is good company.”

A flash of jealousy appears in his eyes for a moment. He clenches his jaw and bites his lower lip. My eyes drop to his mouth, and I suddenly wonder which one of us is truly guilty of seduction.

“Things must be hard for you,” Cambion says softly. “Being thrust into a world filled with cruelty, forever the victim of someone else’s mistakes. I’m sorry, Eilish.”

“You’ve already apologized numerous times,” I answer, not meaning to sound irritated but I can’t help it. There’s just somuch on my mind. “You don’t have to apologize again, Cambion. I’ve accepted your apology.”

“I just hope to be whatever it is you need.”

“And what do you think I need?” I demand.

“Me.” His answer surprises me, but I don’t cower from it.

“Why do I need you?” I ask, enjoying this game. “I already have Dragan, Baron and Pyre.”

“You need a man to feed the light within you and I want to do just that. You don’t know what it’s like to feel the lightness filling you from the inside out. You don’t remember.”

“And if you were the one to restore my balance,” I start as I look up at him. He is beautiful. He always has been. He’s much prettier than Dragan and Baron are, for lack of a better word. But, it’s true. Cambion’s beauty is the type artists seek to imitate. “What then?” I lower my gaze, feeling the heat in my cheeks. “What happens when you’ve had what you want from me? Do things go back to the way they were?

“No, definitely not,” he answers as he shakes his head with determination.

“I don’t want to be seen as a demon in your eyes again, Cambion.”

He inhales deeply. “I vow never to treat you the way I have. I was afraid and I pushed you away. I’ve wanted you all along, Eilish. I was just too afraid of what would happen if you knew the truth. I was afraid and I was so full of shame and anger towards myself.” He takes a breath. “But things are different now.”

“Are they?”

“Yes. I see you now, Eilish. And I don’t see a demon. I see an incredibly strong and powerful woman. A beautiful woman. I see therealyou and she’s the same woman I’ve always seen.”

***

DRAGAN

Oronrel

Baron may have won our little competition by killing the first spellcaster, but I’ve killed three since. So I consider myself the winner.

Regardless, the four of us look like we’ve bathed in blood as we race towards the door behind the throne. Pyre covers our retreat as the blaring light of day nearly sears my eyes. Baron hisses beside me as well, and Theren’s no different.

Pyre, hidden behind his mask, doesn’t complain.

“Keep moving!” he urges.

I throw open the door and spy a black gate.

“Go through the gate,” Theren orders.

I’m the first to reach it. The gate shakes as we climb over it, and I wince. I wasn’t healed before I came on this mission and the beating my body has taken is only going to elongate my healing time.

“Next time you two decide to drag me along on some fucking quest, make sure you wait until I’m healed!” I complain.

“Stop whining,” Baron says.

Our heavy footfalls pound against the blackened field as we head for the mountains in the distance. Theren stares at us in confusion.

“What the hell are you looking at?” I demand.