Page 113 of The Spider Queen

“The pull, right?”

Maggie nodded. “Thane’s enemies will stop at nothing to ensure he is never freed. They won’t stop until they kill you—and kill everyone sworn to protect you.”

My breath hitched. The idea of Hunter—

No.

“What’s stopping his enemies from killing me after I free Thane?”

“Thane can protect you in a way no one else can.”

“Because he’s powerful?”

“Among other things.” She stood, signaling the end to our conversation. “I’ll show you to your room.”

“What? That’s it? You dump all of that in my lap and then expect me to go off to bed and be okay with it? You basically just told me that Hunter is cursed either way. Free Thane and Hunter dies. But if I don’t free Thane, then Thane’s enemies kill Hunter anyway, and probably me, too.”

“Yes.”

“Does he know?” I whispered. “Does Hunter know?”

“Of course Hunter knows.”

And we’d fallen in love anyway.

Sick to my stomach, I pressed a hand to my mouth. “I’m ready to see the room, now.” I needed privacy to fall apart.

I followed her up one of the front staircases in the main room and walked down a long hall. We arrived at the end, and she placed her hand on a brass knob attached to a broad oak door.

“Get some rest. You have a long afternoon ahead of you.”

“Maggie I—” I sighed. “Thank you.”

The woman looked like she wanted to snap out a retort, but she surprised me when she said, “You’re welcome. Clean clothes are in the armoire.”

I wondered if Maggie always had a revolving door of guests, or if my presence was something special that she had been waiting for.

She’d been overjoyed to see Hunter—she’d been welcoming and warm. After our initial greeting, she’d been nothing short of cold. I understood. I really did, and I didn’t begrudge her for it.

But she’d reiterated what I already knew: Hunter was good, and he had a beautiful heart. And I was changing that.Iwas the one who would cause his death, no matter which choice I made.

I knew I should try to get some rest, so I crawled into bed, pulled the covers over me, and closed my eyes.

There was a knock on the door.

“Come in,” I called faintly, cracking open my eyelids.

“Hey,” Hunter said as his form filled the doorway.

“Hey. I thought you were asleep.”

“Tried. Couldn’t.”

I knew what he was really saying. He wanted to hold me in bed one last time before our lives changed again.

Drawing back the covers, I nodded. Hunter collapsed next to me and opened his arms. I snuggled into his chest, closing my eyes, but not wanting to fall asleep. I didn’t want to miss the last time he held me.

“What would’ve happened?” I asked. “If we’d been different people and I was just Poppy the science nerd, and you were Hunter pre-med. What would our lives have looked like?”