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She started to sniff "Then why do I feel like a coward?"

"Ava--"

"And the worst part… I wanted to I wanted to kill him So much Not just kill him, I wanted to make him hurt It was there, Malachi It’s still there inside me No one understands There’s this black voice that wantsuntil--"

"Stop" He crushed her to his chest, whispering against her cheek and tasting her tears "Stop"

"Who ah and swollen "What a her away so that her eyesher to keep her eyes on him "Mine My heart My soul That is all that matters to me"

"But--"

"That is all that matters" He pressed a kiss to her lips, but she froze

Distant She drifted away from him even as he held her in his arms Malachi kissed her, but she was not there She was lost in her own uilt for the death of a predator Fearful of her oer

Vashama canem, reshon

He could feel his soul reach for her

Come back to me, Ava

Tentative hands came to his waist, then reached around and pressed to the small of his back Her lips softened under his and she allowed him to pull her closer He wanted to take the kiss deeper Wanted to spirit her away froround where the scent of sandalwood and sulfur still lingered in the air

He held her long after they broke the kiss, tucking her head under his chin before he steered her down the stairs, past their friends and the wondering eyes of Daht to the front of the building It was near dawn, and shopkeepers were beginning to show themselves Hu froht, unaware that the silent threat that had been stalking it was gone

For now

Malachi took Ava to the scribe house and up the stairs to the roos He lay down next to his silent mate and held her until she fell into fitful dreams Then he followed her into sleep and held her there, too

It was silent in the es where the forest stood, silent and watchful over its residents He cradled her in the grass, her arms twined around his neck

"There’s a darkness," she whispered "And it scares me so much"

"Do not fear the darkness"