“Please, Ava. What about Willow, Nadine?”

I turn my chin away from him. I believe that Roman will find a way to free them eventually. But what will be left of me if I do this? Killing those vampires was one thing. That was self-defense. But Ethan? He’s horrible, but he’s just as trapped as I am, and he’s a person with a family—even if that family is the one he found here. I can’t go back to Parker as a murderer. Would I even want myself around him like that? He’d be better off without me.

All my choices drop away from me. Perhaps choice was always only an illusion, and I’ve been destined for this particular fate my entire life. I can find only one way out of it—stop fighting back. Let him kill me and be done with it—the only path that gives me an ounce of power is surrender, refusing to give them one last show.

My limbs are numb. I ignore the magic buzzing in them, ordering me to get ready.

But then Roman says my name, soft and pleading, and I can’t stop myself from turning back to him. He looks me up and down like he can’t decide where to focus. One finger reaches out and traces the chain lacing the front of my corset. He meets my eyes as he hooks a finger through one, pulling gently. Gently enough that I don’t have to follow, but I do. He pulls me against him, and I tilt my chin as he bends over me, hesitating. But we don’t really have time for hesitation anymore. I wrap my fingers around his suspenders and pull him down to me.

That familiar desperation is in the way we press together, but it’s somehow stronger now. His lips plead with me, beg me, and for a second, I give in. I kiss him back like I’ll never leave him.

But I’m a liar. Just like he is. Just like everyone here is.

I break away. His eyes are wild and panicked. He knows what I’m going to do.

I lean forward and whisper, “My father will stop it. He won’t let me die.” I wish I believed that. I don’t, but maybe Roman will.

Roman’s saying something to me as my platform jerks and begins to rise. More emotion rages across his face than I’ve ever seen. I wish I knew if he were more upset about losing me or losing his potential ally in his crusade against the garden.