Page 94 of The Last Sanctuary

“I didn’t want this to happen. What Dekker did to you…”

“You stood there and watched.”

“There was nothing I could do. I wanted to kill him, trust me.”

“Is that what you tell yourself?” There was no venom in her words, no blame. Not anymore. She understood the feeling of being trapped between two impossible choices, each with terrible consequences.

“I can keep you safe now.”

She glanced at him. His expression was solemn, pensive. Rain trickled down his narrow face, plastered his russet hair to his scalp, and beaded on the silver ring piercing his lip. His cunning features still sharply handsome.

“As safe as I am right now?”

He frowned. “After you give them the white wolf. You keep your end of the bargain, and Vaughn will protect you. I’ll protect you.”

She made a noncommittal, disbelieving sound in the back of her throat.

“I swear it. I’ll ask my uncle for you. I can keep you safe.”

She raised her cuffed hands, emphasizing the cuffs. “Right.”

“I’ll take those damn things off as soon as you take Vaughn to the wolf. That’s all you have to do, okay? Just take us there, and everything can be different. It’ll be better, I swear it.”

She saw guilt swimming in his eyes. Remorse. He wasn’t a monster, though he lived among them.

In his own way, Damien had found himself caught in a life he hadn’t chosen. He’d done what he had to do to survive. She couldn’t blame him for it, even if she disagreed with his choices.

“And if I want to leave? After you’ve supposedly saved me?”

“Then I’ll help you.”

“Yeah, right.”

“I will, I swear it. Even if… even if it kills me.”

Survival was about more than keeping yourself breathing. It was about choices and sacrifices, choosing what you could live with. And what you couldn’t.

Everyone had to make that decision for themselves.

Her anger dissipated. She didn’t have the energy for it anymore. Not against him. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

She shook her head, blinked water from her eyes. “I can’t expect you to risk your life for me, a stranger. I shouldn’t have. It isn’t fair. That’s what I’m sorry for.”

“I’m choosing to. I want to.”

“Why, Damien? Why are you risking anything for me?”

“You were brave,” he said after a moment. “Back at the lodge. And now. Hell, every time I’ve met you. You’re doing something brave. Stupid, but brave. Or good. I… maybe I admire that.”

“Maybe?”

“Yeah. I do. I really do.”

She said nothing. There was nothing to say. Bravery wouldn’t help her now. It was too late for that.

They trudged on. A few minutes later, her exhausted feet tripped over themselves. Damien caught her. His hands were strong. His nearness was strangely comforting.