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Kaiya didn't speak, just continued to glare at me with those beautiful hazel eyes.

"We both know there's no reason for you to stay. Not now that Tye is here and we dock this afternoon. We don't need your help."

She winced, and I resisted the urge to apologize. I needed to do this, even if every part of me pleaded for me to stop.

"Go, Kaiya. Leave with the Lieutenant. We don't want you here — not after you helped wipe out a hundred prisoners with those damn bonds."

It was my turn to wince as Kaiya's jaw dropped, her eyes growing angry.

"You — you fucking asshole," she seethed. "You have the nerve to say that while all you do is ignore us and drink yourself to sleep. Hells! At least I have the decency to feel bad about what I do. But you — is thatanotherbottle hiding in your shirt?"

I reflexively put a hand to where I hid the bottle from Harry.

"See!" she said. "What happened to you, Liam? You used to be kind! ELI was kind. But you —" she shook her head, letting the words trail off. "And for your information,I'm not here because I want to be. I have no other option."

"Why?" I asked.

She didn't respond.

"Gods, you're so frustrating!" I clenched my jaw. She would never listen to me.

My words had been harsh, but they hadn't been enough. I had to dig into the wounds festering inside her — then ratchet up the pain the others had dealt the night before.

Forgive me.

Blocking out all my emotions, I leaned towards the bars on my cell door, wrapping my hands around the cold metal.

"Look around you," I said, voice hard. "Really look. Do you see them?" I gestured around the cell block. "All the faces that you hurt — the faces that hate and fear you?"

Kaiya froze as the prisoners shuffled, moving closer to the bars.

She felt responsible for each one — and for all their experiences behind those fucking red doors.

She was wrong … but she was blind to that fact. And I was using the falsehood to twist a dagger in her heart.

The anger vanished from her face, leaving only guilt and pain.

I pressed on.

"Look at them and tell me it's better for you to be here, reminding them of the force-bonded they're leaving behind, while pretending you're not the woman whotook their loved ones away. Look at their faces, Kaiya, and tell me it's better for you to stay."

My heart ached as she bit her lip to hold back the tears. In typical Kaiya fashion she closed up and said nothing when she felt guilty.

For weeks, I'd wished she'd stop doing that. She always tried to carry everything on her own. And now I was using it against her. It made me sick …

"Leave us, Maderoth. Go. Go anywhere but here. We don't want you here. You only hurt those around you. Maybe … youarea monster."

She had tried so hard to hold back the tears, but they finally broke free, running down her face.

Yes, hate me … if it keeps you safe.

"Yes! Leave, monster," Darlene sneered.

"Go away, Maderoth!"

"We don't want you!"

Dozens of voices joined in, driving the words home.