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The men fall behind me as I turn and head deeper into the compound It’s only when I take a fa back to my old room by habit and that it’s not appropriate forIt’s just as well That tiny rooh for the four of us

With a sigh, I veer in the opposite direction and h the front door, even withlaunched into a past I want no part of My knees buckle

I never hit the floor

Malachi scoops me up “Bathroom?”

I try to speak, but no words cooing” He disappears through a doorway leading deeper into the house

Wolf surveys the room “I hope you’re not attached to any of this” I shake my head mutely and he smiles “Let Mal wind you down and we’ll take care of the rest You did good, love”

Malachi carries e bathrooh the air, and I take what feels like my first full breath in hours We did it We actually pulled it off My father is gone and I am now the leader of this compound Holy shit I don’t even kno to process that I don’t even knohere to begin to start “Oh gods” My body starts to shake, violent tre in waves “It hurts” I don’t knohat I mean, only that it’s true

“I know, little dhampir I know”

Rylan stays long enough to use his claws to divestthe door softly behind hi me down “Breathe You did it The worst of it is over”

“I never wanted to lead,” I whisper “I just wanted to be free”

“Freedom in our world cos htly “Can you stand?”

“I think so?”

He sets me carefully on ets to my hands, he examines the claws “These are impressive”

“I don’t kno I did it I just heard Rylan’s voice in ic obeyed”

“Sometimes it happens like that Close your eyes” I obey, and he keeps speaking in that low, calm voice “Envision your hands as they norht”