By the time I finish burying the body and return inside, the house is quiet. Sverre is still sprawled across the couch, one massive arm flung across Daniil. It takes me a moment to realize that Magda, now sitting in the armchair, is awake. She watches me, but I avoid her gaze as I brush off the worst of the ice coating me.

More than anything I want to be alone, but too much longer in the cold would be dangerous. So I head to the cramped space of the kitchen and lean on the counter. My hands burn and my face is numb. The pain in my ribs seems to grow worse with each breath. I should drink something, eat something more as well, maybe have one of my team members look after my wounds—but I can’t bring myself to search through this family’s cabinets after what I’ve done. From the look of the pantry, we’ve practically cleaned them out already anyway. No wonder this man was desperate enough to rummage through our belongings. If only I hadn’t been so stupid as to leave the power source unguarded…

When I hear soft feet on the floor behind me, I shut my eyes.

“Not now,” I say, low enough that I won’t wake anyone else.

“Especially now,” Magda says. When I say nothing else, she reaches for me.

In moments like these, it’s easy to understand why Titans crave physical touch so much. It’s the sole bit of warmth on this stars-damned world. Magda’s fingers slip beneath my jacket and trace lines of fire across my icy skin, massage feeling into the half-frozen muscles of my neck and shoulders. I draw a shuddery breath as she eases the knots of tension.

I want to pull away before anyone wakes up and sees us. I want her to never stop touching me. I want… I want many things that aren’t possible.

“You don’t have to be so lonely,” Magda murmurs. Her hands pull away, but before I can miss her touch, her lips replace them. She presses a soft kiss into the space where my neck meets my shoulder, slipping one arm around my waist and pressing herself against my back. I let myself lean into her for a moment—a dangerous moment—but then push her hands away. She steps back, and I turn. Her face is unreadable in the dim light. “Why?” she asks. “Why do you have to be so distant?”