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“This is insane, and so wasted on you.” Sienna’s voice makes me jump. She glances pointedly at the baggy Ashford sweatshirt I’m wearing.

“Then take some of my dresses. You’ll need to get them taken in. God knows my ass is twice the size of yours.”

“I wish I had your ass.” She tugs at a light-purple gown, examining the fabric. “Why is there so much lavender?”

A small smile tugs at my lips. “Damian likes that color on me.”

Sienna slowly turns, brows lifted. “That’s right. The ridiculous necklace he gave you had lavender stones.”

I shrug. “Whoever designed my wardrobe was clearly given very specific instructions. Very like Damian Cross.”

She stares at me for a long moment. “That man is obsessed with you.”

“For some reason, yes. Though it’s not exactly flattering.”

Sienna narrows her eyes. “Why not?”

My cheeks warm. Sienna sees right through my attempt to be nonchalant when it comes to Damian’s feelings for me.

I sigh. “I do think he cares for me genuinely, but it’s all so twisted. He was raised to see people in a transactional way. That their only value is dependent on how useful they can be to him. I’m not sure he’ll ever fully get over that.”

She watches me with something unreadable in her expression. Then, after a long pause, she inhales deeply, like she’s bracing herself. “Ava, there’s something I have to tell you.”

I frown. “What?”

“I’m not sure if I should. Your situation with Damian is complicated. I know… I mean, I’ve guessed that there’s a lot you haven’t told me.”

There’s no accusation in the statement, but still, my chest tightens. “Tell me.”

“Well…the morning I met Damian I had this feeling. I know it sounds weird, but it was a good feeling. I’d been so worried about you, and somehow, most of it went away after I talked to him.” A wry smile rises to her lips. “I was—no joke—scared he might have hypnotized me, but then…” She shifts on her feet. “Then he bought me a house.”

An otherworldly aura settles over me, making the inside of my closet hum and sparkle. “A house…” My voice is breathless.

“My own house. A really nice one. In the San Aurelia hills. He told me I own it outright, and that I’ll never have to worry about property taxes or utilities. It’s there for me now. To live in if I want, or to stay there on breaks so I can still get the college experience.”

I’m frozen, unable to think or move.

“He paid for the rest of my time at Ashford. Room, board, everything. And he said…” She clears her throat. “He said I’ll never need anything for the rest of my life. He said he’ll provide for me.”

As if in a dream, I find my feet moving toward the velvet couch. I plop down. There’s only one reason he did this. One reason alone.

“He said I never have to see my dad again,” Sienna says, as if reading my mind. “Ever.”

Silence stretches between us. The words are there, tangible and real, but they still feel so far away. I’ve feared Mr. Morgan on Sienna’s behalf for so long. Even after we came to Ashford, the fear never fully left. I thought he’d haunt her life until she was financially independent, and I’d assumed that was still years away.

I lived in terror that he might kill her.

Sienna exhales. “I know you must have told him about my dad. And for once, I’m glad you broke a promise. I’m free, Ava.” Her voice wobbles. “I’m free because of you.”

My throat is so tight it’s hard to breathe. No, she’s not free because of me. She’s free because of Damian.

And I love him.

God help me, I love him even if it means I’m corrupt inside, taking gifts—precious gifts like Sienna’s freedom and safety—at the cost of lives. Like Ben Cartwright’s.

But Damian was told to kill Ben, and he had to comply. It’s what his dark world requires of him. The same world that also gave him the power to save Sienna from years of torment and maybe even death.

Two things: one good and one evil. How is it possible that they can coexist?