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Husband.

Tears burned my eyes. Given was so sweet and soft on top of me, her gorgeous tits bouncing wildly. They filled my hands like the gods had sized them just for me. Her reams of hair trailed across my chest and, fuck, I liked it. I liked being all tangled up in her, the scent of cloves and forest and female in my nose.

And Laurent. My Laurent. Sleek muscle and silver eyes and an ass made for my dick. He’d always smelled like cinnamon and spices, the whisper of prayers clinging to him. My dark prince. My beautiful priest.

King and queen.

They were mine.

Laurent threw his head back and shouted the ceiling down. He came so hard, I felt his seed pumping into Given’s body. With a grunt, I plunged my hand between her legs and stroked her clit. Two tight circles and she shuddered and cried out. I followed a second later, and the three of us filled the Rose Room with our sighs and moans.

At some point, we recovered enough to rearrange ourselves so no one was crushing anyone else. I closed my eyes and let myself float for a minute.

So I didn’t notice at first when Given left the bed. A soft sound brought my head up in time to see her fasten her gown.

“What are you doing?” I asked. Beside me, Laurent rolled over and sat up.

Given stood before us with eyes shimmering with tears.

My stomach dropped. “Did we hurt you?” I flung the covers back.

“No!” she cried, thrusting a hand out to ward me off. When I froze, she shook her head. “You didn’t hurt me.”

“Then what?” Laurent rasped, tension in his voice. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

She swallowed thickly. Lifted her chin.

My heart pounded. “Given…” I breathed, a horrible awareness settling over me. She hadn’t glowed during sex. She hadn’t made any flowers. “What have you done?”

“I have to go,” she whispered. “I have to do this.”

“Go where?” Laurent demanded, and now fear colored his tone. He jumped from the bed and stalked toward her. “Where are you going?”

“I love you both,” she said, backing up swiftly. “Don’t come after me. Please. I’m already gone.”

Laurent reached for her.

She disappeared.

Chapter Twenty-Four

GIVEN

Jordan was waiting for me.

His solemn blue eyes were the first thing I saw as I reentered my body. He reached down, and I let him help me to my feet. I didn’t ask how he’d found me, or how he’d known I planned to ride to the Rift.

The chasm lay about a hundred feet ahead. Mindful of the patrols Varick had stationed at the Bleak Pass, I’d chosen a spot well away from the bridge. The Rift was much wider here, Sithistra nothing more than a hazy suggestion on the other side.

I turned and walked toward it. Jordan fell into step beside me, his hands clasped behind his back and his gaze on the inky horizon.

Neither of us spoke. The moon was much brighter than the night of the battle. It illuminated our steps, splashing over the scrubby grass and sunbaked ground. Limning everything in silver and reminding me of Laurent.

“Have you always known?” I asked finally, and I thought of Helen. Maybe I didn’t want to know if Midian told the truth. Maybe it was better to believe she’d protected me because she loved me and not because she wanted to keep me alive so I could die.

Jordan stopped and turned to me, his eyes still solemn in his youthful face.

I huffed a joyless laugh. “I thought you might finally be honest with me.”