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"Your teeth say otherwise" I pointed "Flat etarian Pointy means carnivore"

Mason rolled his eyes "I didn't say it was natural for etarian"

"Okay… so why?"

He let out a heavy sigh "Meat ave her headaches She only ate fruits, vegetables, nuts" He flipped the steak "So I learned to like other foods"

"And now?"

He went very quiet, his eyes focusing in on the steak "Now…" His voice was hoarse "I honor her with my every meal"

My throat clogged with emotion

The fact that he honored her at all — but with every single meal — killedknown true love? And know heforever?

"Don't pity rowl "It makes it harder"

"Sorry," I whispered "So pinecones, huh?"

He laughed "Yes, well, it's an acquired taste"

"I bet"

My heart picked up speed, and then I s bymy head "Steak almost done?"

"I'm a perfectionist" Mason held up his hands "Let the juices seal"

Ethan scrunched up his nose "Her blood tastes better than that steak"

"Yes, well, her blood tastes good because she's living She's living because I feed her"

"Werewolf has a point," I teased "Besides, if I eat !"

"Whose king?" Ethan tilted his head "What lion? Mason's a wolf"

And that's how I ended up spendingsteak and watching a Disney do

It felt right

Like I'd finally found my place

My home

I had no idea that the security I felt was about to get ripped from me, from the very people I'd put my trust in

Ethan

I tried to watch the childish uhts were elsewhere

On Alex and Stephanie

On what he'd just revealed tohis own sister's confidence because he was so damn worried about what she would do — what she was capable of

"She thinks she loves him," Alex muttered sourly "Yet she doesn't wear his mark It's as if he's refused to mark her, but she still… craves him"

"Sirens crave sex," I mumbled "You know this"

"This is 's shifted, I don't knohat… but…"

I pinched the bridge of my nose "He wouldn't dare mark her for death Immortals don't mate with each other — not in that way It's not natural"

"That's what I said"