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Damen held me close for what seemed like hours, only releasing me when I had to leave the room for another checkup. Soon it was just Dr. Reed, Julian, and me, alone once more in Dr. Reed’s office, as the two of them poked and prodded around my neck and shoulder.

The comforting haze didn’t fully lift until Julian brushed past me to set the roll of gauze back on the table. The slight touch of his sleeve-covered arm rubbed against my too-sensitive skin, and I jumped.

Julian froze, staring at me as I quickly regained my bearings.

“Oh!” I touched my lips. “S-sorry.”

Julian’s lips dipped. “There’s no need to apologize,” he said. “Is there something bothering you?”

“I—” I looked past him, at Dr. Reed across the room. She was now watching us over her notes. “I wasn’t paying attention. It’s been… eventful.”

Julian cocked his head. “What do you mean? What’s wrong? ”

I shook my head. How was I supposed to answer him? How could I tell him what happened with Damen?

My skin chilled as the memory passed through my thoughts, and I wanted to slap myself for letting the memory resurface. “It’ll be okay,” I said, repeating Damen’s words.

“Are you sure?” Julian was rubbing his hands down my arms now, expression pinched in concern. “Isn’t Damen in your room? I thought seeing him might make you happy?” He frowned. “Did he say something?”

“N-no,” I answered. Darn bodily reactions. “I—I just don’t want to be here.” They were trying to make me remember, and I didn’t want to.

“We need to get her out of here.” Julian shifted toward his mother. “She’s getting worse.”

“I’m doing my best, Julian.” Dr. Reed sighed. “But her parents believe that this is the safest place for her. They are concerned. Because of the Cole family, the Council now knows of her, although not who she is. She is not ready to face that scrutiny.”

“But she was doing good with us,” Julian accused. His arm tightened around me, and anger leaked into his voice. “You can’t keep her locked inside a room forever!”

“Abigail is worried—”

“Don’t tell me how worried she is.” Julian’s voice was a snarl. “She hasn’t come to visit her even once.”

I was barely paying attention to their conversation. My thoughts continuously replayed what had happened with Damen, and every misstep remained branded in my memories.

“I used the word!” I wailed, squeezing my eyes shut. The confession spilled from my mouth before I could stop myself. “I ruined e-e-everything!”

The room went silent, and Julian’s frame had become statue- like. Dr. Reed finally broke the silence. “What word?” Dr. Reed watched us curiously. “What are you talking about?”

“Mother, can you please leave?” Julian’s voice was tense, completely lacking the gentleness to which I’d become accustomed.

“What?” Her eyebrow rose as she studied her son. “I’m not going to leave.”

“ Please ,” Julian repeated. Even though he’d asked, his tone was firm. Dr. Reed studied him for a second longer before she nodded and left the room.

The instant the door shut, Julian was on his knees in front of me. He pulled my hands into his own, and, through my watery vision, I noticed his deadly expression.

“What happened?” he asked. “What did he do?”

“I a-a-attacked him!” I still couldn’t believe it. My breath caught in horror at the recollection of my actions. “He was trying to make me eat, and I was so mad!”

Julian blinked, his murderous expression morphing into confusion. “What?”

Anger was beginning to burn inside once again. “Everyone keeps telling me what to do and giving me no choice, and he wouldn’t stop bossing me around! I wanted to hit him, or something.”

Julian’s expression was close to bewilderment now. But I wasn’t finished, and I added, “I don’t know how it happened, but then I kissed him instead.”

His surprise morphed into shock. His mouth opened, and for a brief moment, nothing escaped. Finally, his stilted words reached me. “ You kissed him ?”

I know, it was terrible of me.

“He was really annoying,” I explained. “He said you coddle me. Then he was all flirty and bossy. I couldn’t stop myself. ”

Julian’s eyebrow raised, and his gaze turned contemplative. “Coddle?”

I ignored his question, “So when he wouldn’t shut up, I grabbed his shirt and attacked him. I’m sorry.”

“Why are you apologizing?” Julian asked, tugging at my hands and lowering his face to mine. “There’s no need to apologize. Didn’t we agree to let this happen naturally? We’re not normal, and what we’ve always had was non-conventional. Don’t worry. If you want to kiss Damen, then kiss him.”

“But I shouldn’t have done it.” My breath hitched, and a sob stuck in my throat. “Afterward, he taunted me with food, then kissed me again. It was nice at first… But then I freaked out.”

“Did he force you to do anything?” Julian’s tone was wary.

I shook my head. “He didn’t do anything bad. I just… freaked out.”

“That’s expected.” Julian’s gaze had softened. “The important thing is that he respected your boundaries. Do you know what triggered you?”

“He touched my stomach.” My heart pounded, shame rushing through me. I was the stupidest person in the world. “I…” My voice trailed off, and I broke eye contact.

“I couldn’t breathe anymore,” I offered, my voice small.

Julian rubbed his hands over my arms, and when he spoke, his voice was a measured calm. “Darling, do you know why that triggered you?”

My breath hitched as my heart jerked wildly. I nodded.

He watched me, his touch feather-light against my skin. It was as if he thought I’d break. “Would it make you feel better to talk about it?”

I shook my head, moving back from him. My panic faded, my defenses slamming into place around me .

There was no need to continue this conversation. Everything was fine.

I just needed to avoid anything triggering, forever. Now that I knew another of my limits, it would be easier.

“No.” I crossed my arms, trying to get warm again. “Can I go back now?” My insides crawled with anxiety, and I was desperate for some peace. Even the air felt disgusting. “I want to go back.”

“We can go back.” Julian stood up and held his hand out for me. “I’ll go with you. I’d like to see Damen before I leave.”

I followed Julian as he led me past the door. He somehow evaded his mother’s questions, and she didn’t stop Julian from kidnapping me.

Julian didn’t let go of my hand even once.

The farther away from the office, the more the buzzing faded from my ears.

Slowly, Julian’s presence started filling the emptiness inside with a sensation of peace and belonging.

By the time we reached my room, I was calm and collected and feeling much better about the entire situation.

Then Julian opened the door and I saw Bryce Dubois, sitting on my bed.

What misfortune that I’d squandered my perfect chance to plan for the future. Instead of using my time wisely and plotting, I’d wallowed in self-pity.

What a terrible mistake, especially considering the identity of my foe.

What was I supposed to do? I hadn’t even decided what to call him, and now he was here on the offensive before me while I remained totally unprepared.

So, with shame, instead of approaching the situation with wit and suaveness, my reaction to finding Bryce lounging in my space was only to point at him as I made an embarrassing sound.

There was a loud laugh, and the sound pulled my focus from the fae’s frowning face.

Damen was balancing himself on the back two legs of a metal chair. He smirked at Bryce and said, “Nothing brings me greater joy than her reactions when she sees you.”

Bryce glared at him.

“Be nice.” Julian walked past me and smacked Damen on the back of the head. “Bryce, what are you doing here?”

My attention returned to Bryce, and I frowned as a pang of sympathy twisted in my chest.

“What happened to your face?” I asked him. I didn’t like the man, but by God—it looked like he’d been mauled by a wild boar. What kind of demon could inflict such damage on another person?

Damen continued to snicker, and Bryce frowned but didn’t answer. Instead, he reached behind him. “I’m here to see you, Bianca. I brought you something.”

Julian froze, and Damen leaned forward until his chair slammed down onto all fours. But neither made any effort to intervene.

Could it be? “Food?” I asked. I’d been wondering about that smell.

Bryce paused in the act of pulling out a brown bag and shot me an impressed look.

“Actually, yes,” he said, moving the bag to his lap. The movement had made the aroma even stronger. “I picked this up on the way over. I figured you might want something to eat.”

“I thought you brought it for yourself.” Damen rolled his eyes. “Don’t bother, she won’t—”

“Thanks.” I sat down on the bed next to Bryce and unpacked my offering. Perhaps he wasn’t so bad after all. “You’ve read my mind. Good job.”

I unwrapped a plain McDouble and took a large bite.

“No one else understands.” Bryce nodded. “We’re a misunderstood lot.”

“What the fuck?” Damen’s rude words broke into our bonding moment. He—and Julian, too—stared at us as if we’d lost our minds. “Why are you eating for him?”

I took another bite, slowly chewing. After all, there was no easy way to explain. “He brought it here,” I said finally, “from the outside .”

Damen frowned. “So what?”

“Do you not have any instincts, or has she always been saving you since the beginning? Obviously , outside food—especially something from a chain restaurant—is much less likely to be poisoned. You must always be cautious in times of war.” Bryce held up his finger as he nodded.

“This is especially true if you’re trapped in hostile territory.

I wouldn’t be surprised if they’ve tampered with her food. They hate fae.”

Damen rubbed his temples, so it was Julian who answered as he looked at my cheeseburger. “I really don’t think—”