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Adrick left, and Dante approached, brows knit. “What was that about?”

Oh,nowhe was concerned? After he’d thrown their friendship in her face, he expected her to rip her wounds wide open for him? “Like you care.”

“I didn’t mean the stuff I said.”

“Save it. I don’t want to talk to you.”

She ran to the French doors at the end of the kitchens and threw them open.

A frigid wind whipped her skirts around her legs, and icy rain pelted her face. Despite her gloves, her fingertips stung as soon as she stepped outside.

“Bad night for a stroll,” Dante said behind her.

“I need to think.”

“Unpleasant spot for it.”

“Unpleasant company isn’t helping. If you want to finish this job, do it. But be a shadow.” If he didn’t want to be her friend, he could be her enemy. That seemed to be all she had left anyway.

“Can I say something?”

“No.” It felt delicious to shoot him down.

Ice coated the branches, encasing the trees like glass sculptures. Shivers shook her, but she kept walking.

Dante dogged her footsteps. “I’mtryingto apologize.”

“Don’t bother.”

He sighed heavily. “Look. People usually try to kill me when they find out. I panicked.” He blocked her path, his gaze intent beneath eyelashes glittering with ice. “Will you please come inside?”

“No.”

He growled in frustration. “I’ll do it, okay? I’ll let you practice on me.”

“Why? You don’t care about Saverio.”

“I’m not offering to help Saverio. I’m offering to helpyou.”

She closed her eyes. “Forget it. It was a ridiculous idea. You don’t even have a gift I can use.”

“What do youwant?” Dante demanded.

The frigid rain dripped down her cheeks like tears. “To be left alone.”

“Not now. In general. You say you want to be a hero, but you’re real quick to play the victim. You say you want friends, but you won’t forgive me. You say you want my help, but you won’t take it. So, what is it?”

She gestured to the high wall around the garden, at everything it kept her from. “To save Saverio. That’s what the Finestra is meant to do.”

“I didn’t ask what everyone wants fromyou. I asked whatyouwant.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“I think you’re scared.”

She rolled her eyes. “A swarm of demons is coming, andIhave to protect us. Who wouldn’t be scared?”

“No, that’s not it. You’re scared of losing yourself.”