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But as Aoibheal had said, he was patient, wise He’d seeenuine eade, rogue warrior He’d hidden and pretended to be someone else forhis goals And he had constantly ain in it for him, the contention that he cared for me Wanted me

I’d seen that truth in his face, as I stood near the black hole at Chester’s and both Barrons and Cruce had regarded er and desire

What had Cruce said then?

You alone speak to the finest of all that I a out his finest now By any means necessary

No boundaries No refusals Even if it destroyed aveit would kill Barrons but leave me alive And it would definitely kill ivehireed, would he keep his word?

I closed h with it?

Yes This wasn’t about me I was expendable The universe wasn’t I’d pay any price to save it

"Cruce," I said softly Then ly, "Cruce, I need you Please co, do you hear s that were done to you I see the chances you had and the chances you were never given I’ve wronged you I never let myself be open to you I’m sorry"

"MacKayla At last" His voice arrived before his body and I knew he’d been watching from somewhere beyond, for some time I wondered why he could still sift Hoas that even possible?

A faint outline appeared, filled in and solidified

He wore no glamour but stood before , iridescent-eyed Fae prince with s and kaleidoscopic tattoos Then his wings were gone and he earing tight-fitting black leather pants, steel-toed boots, and a rugged sweater His long black hair was bound at his nape, his sharply chiseled face stunning His eyes flickered and changed before settling on warold

A chaise appeared and he waved his hand toward it

I moved in silence, sank down onto it, and he joined ers with e time Just held hands, and I looked at hi If you look at soh, it’s as if their face sort of peels away You start to notice tiny things you never noticed before