Page 151 of Lana Pecherczyk

River forced his blood pressure to lower, to address his mate without anger. “It doesn’t matter if we stare at it all day. It won’tbring her back, nor will it erase what she did to him, what Nero did to her. Cloud will still feel like there’s nothing left worth saving.”

His voice cracked on the last word, and he closed his eyes.

Blake wrapped her arms around him and pressed her forehead against the spiny ridge between his wings.

“Sometimes things break,” she murmured, “so they can be put back together stronger than before. But first, you need to acknowledge the break. You can’t fix it if you can’t see exactly where it happened and why.”

“We know why. Wait—” His throat tightened as her words settled. “You said I wasn’t one of your projects.”

“You’re not!”

“Blake…”

“I just think you shouldn’t give up on him yet.”

“Like I gave up on him before?” he clipped.

“I’m sorry. I overstepped.”

An incredulous laugh burst out of him.

“Oh shit, sorry.” She covered her mouth. “This is so annoying.”

“It’s fine.” He kissed the top of her head. A laugh was exactly what he’d needed to snap him out of his mood. “I stopped collecting your debts a while ago. And I think the Well has too.”

“Hm. Yes, I felt no zip of recognition. What does that mean?”

“You and I don’t need debts paid between us because we’re in this together. All in.”

His gaze flicked to the wall, to his future. Maybe Blake was right. Maybe acknowledging the break was the only way they could repair this. But maybe she wasn’t. Either way, he shouldn’t have taken out his mood on her. Squeezing her tighter, he murmured against her head, “I shouldn’t have snapped. I laughed because I keep fucking up, yet you’re the one who apologizes.”

She rubbed his back. “You’re upset.”

“But not at you.”

“I know.” Blake lowered to a crouch by the stack of anatomy books. “I want to take the textbook with me when we leave.”

“Far as I know,” he said, glad for the change of subject, “there’s only one way out of here: through water.”

“Oh, bugger.” She paused. “The paper will get soaked. I’d better study the right page. And I puked in there. Have you thought of a way out?”

“Not really. The water seems clean now. If we swim out, maybe we can avoid the waterfall if I usePeacemakerand claw my way up the ravine with you hanging on my back.”

“Or!” she countered, eyes wide with an idea. “Maybe you could do one of those communication spells and contact your parents?”

“I didn’t think of that,” he admitted. He showed her his triad tattoo. “I could even use this to contact Ash and ask for his help to lift you from the river. How did I not think of that? It’s so obvious.”

He definitely wasn’t the forger of new paths like his namesake.

“Get fucked.” She shoved him playfully. “You’re perfect. But also, have you wondered if you can travel through the water the same way you pulled your dad out of the bowl?”

He stared at her. Stunned. More than stunned.

And then his cock got hard again. This woman, thisperfectwoman, was his. And for some Well-damned reason, she lovedhim.

He cupped her face and gave her a slow, deep kiss that left her breathless, and him wondering if it was too late to change his mind about leaving so soon.

“Your mind is so fucking sexy,” he said. “I don’t know how I’d do this without you.”