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Ty went quiet again, but Ena sensed that there was more to the story.

“What happened to him? Your friend?” Ena asked quietly.

Ty met her gaze with purpose, as if what he was about to say next would be extremely consequential. “He was killed when one of the targets of my rage started a house fire that spread quickly throughout the village,” he said.

Ena had to hold in her gasp, putting two and two together. “When was this?” she asked, trepidation in her voice.

“About six months ago.” He looked at her with guilt in his eyes. He knew what she was realizing.

He was the cause of the fire that had wiped out the village of Ternan, precipitating the loss of homes and livelihoods that had led to the bandits resorting to thieving and killing. That had led to them attacking her and Ty in the woods.

Ena was silent for a moment. She didn’t know what to say. The fact that Ty had ultimately been the cause of such destruction, and that it had come with such horrible consequences, shocked her.

“Do you regret coming here now? After hearing what I’ve done?

I told you, Ena, this is what daemons do.

This is what I do. At least until I can break the bond.

” He didn’t speak with acceptance, but instead with resignation, as if willing her to see him and judge him. As if he wanted to be punished for it.

But she saw the sorrow in his eyes, the regret. This was not something that he’d chosen. Forced by Iblis and the daemonic hierarchy, she knew this was not something he relished. No, she might have been upset by this information, but she didn’t blame him for it, even if he blamed himself.

“No, I don’t regret it. I know you didn’t choose this, Ty, any more than I chose what happened when the bandits attacked us.”

He looked away from her then, hiding his guilt as if her acceptance of him overwhelmed him.

“But there is one more thing I need to know,” she asked, forcing him to look up at her again. “What will happen if you break the bond? What will daemons do?”

Earnestness shone in his eyes, like he willed her to see what he saw, what he knew.

“My hope is that those of us who wish to serve Gaia will be free to do so. We won’t be forced to do Iblis’s bidding in exchange for our Powers.

We’ll be able to interpret Gaia’s will, in the same way we do Iblis’s, and we’ll have a choice.

With time, and goodwill, we may be able to reintegrate with mortals,” he paused, looking at Ena before he said, “and witches.”

Ena stared at him. She didn’t pretend that she knew this man well.

Once, maybe, she’d thought she did. But nine years was a long time.

Somehow, though, she knew he was being sincere.

The vulnerability in his eyes was one she had not often glimpsed since their reunion.

The passionate way he spoke about his people, and his hopes for the future—it wasn’t faked.

Ena smiled lightly. “It could be a fool’s errand. None of what you hope for could come to pass.”

Ty smiled back at her, like a wolf. “Maybe so…but at least I’ll fuck some shit up on the way.”

Ena would never admit it, but the way he said that sent a thrill through her. Something, somewhere deep inside her, urged her to join him in his chaotic endeavor. To forge this new path with him, and the thought both terrified and enlivened her.

Stooping, she picked up the bag of supplies she’d brought with her and tossed it at his feet. “Go,” she said. “The witches guarding the house have been compelled to ignore and cover your escape. No one will stop you. You can go to the stables and take a horse. You’ll be long gone by morning.”

He looked down at the bag, but he didn’t pick it up. Instead, he smirked at Ena, a knowing, joking look on his face. “I thought you just came here to talk, and yet you had this bag of supplies for me the whole time?”

“I had a feeling about what I might hear.”

Ty chuckled, but then grew quiet. He looked at her seriously and said, “What about you?”

“What about me?”

“You should come with me.”

Ena stared at him in shock and confusion at his offer. “Come with you? Come with you where?”

“To the Underworld.”

Ena scoffed at him, her mouth agape. He had to be joking. But his face was set, and he looked dead serious.

“I’ve been gone too long. I need to return for a while.

But I have resources there. You could help me figure out how to break the bond, now that we have the amulet.

Besides, I’m not leaving you here to take the fall for my escape.

And if you come with me, there are…ways to protect you, to keep you safe. ”

She paused. The sincerity of his offer touched her in a way she couldn’t describe. Clearly, he didn’t want to let her go, either.

“I covered my tracks coming here. They won’t blame me,” Ena said. “And either way…I can’t do that,” she said quietly. “My place is with my Coven, with my sister.”

Ty shrugged, as if he’d expected this. “If you say so.”

He played it off, but she could tell this answer disappointed him. They stared at each other, the tension crackling between them. All that was left was to say goodbye. It was the reason Ena had come, and yet she couldn’t make her mouth form the words.

Ty moved to pick up the saddlebag at his feet, and then he took a few steps towards Ena, stopping when he was close enough to touch. Ena craned her neck to look up at him.

“I guess this is goodbye, then,” he said gently.

“I guess so,” she replied.

“Try not to pine for me for the next nine years, okay?” he said, that cocky smile reappearing on his face.

Ena scoffed, not breaking eye contact. The absolute nerve. “Oh please. You and I both know the second you get to safety, you’ll be thinking about me while you fuck your hand.”

The corner of Ty’s mouth lifted slightly as he took a step closer so their bodies were touching. “I won’t deny it.”

“Good,” Ena said, feeling slightly breathless now.

“Great,” he replied, squishing even closer into her.

“Bye, then.” Ena glanced down at his lips.

“Stop talking,” Ty said, and then his mouth was on hers.