“I know, but she...”

“What?” he persisted softly.

I squeezed my eyes shut behind the sunglasses. “She was scared. She didn’t want to die, even after she knew it was going to happen once the Crone arrived, and I... I don’t know if I cared or not. I mean, I recognized she was scared, but there was this moment, before she released Bambi, that I wanted to kill her.” Feeling like I’d bathed in dirt, I opened my eyes. “I had my hand on her neck, and I wanted to kill her.”

“I wanted to kill her.”

My head whipped in his direction.

“You’re really that shocked? She handed over enchantments that not only killed humans but also put Wardens in danger. She did it to use parts of you,” he reminded me. “I’m not losing any sleep over how it turned out for her. The only thing I wish is that you aren’t bothered by it.”

“Yeah,” I whispered. “Me, too.”

Zayne lifted his hand slowly, reaching out and guiding my sunglasses back up the bridge of my nose. “The fact you’re questioning yourself and your reactions is proof you’re not evil.”

“You think?”

“I know.”

I smiled at that, carefully leaning my head against the wall. His words did make me feel a little better. I just hoped I could hold on to them. That I could believe them.

“You getting tired or anything?” he asked after a couple of minutes.

“Of anything other than boredom? No.”

“Just let me know if you tire of anything other than boredom,” he said and then added, “or me.”

My lips quirked. “I’m not sure I can make that promise about the last part.”

“Do try to resist.”

I pushed away from the wall, feeling like I should say something. To be honest. “I don’t think I could ever get bored with you.”

Surprise rippled through the bond like a rush of cool air. “Annoyed, a different story,” I amended.

“Well, I know better than to expect that.”

I inched closer to him. “Do you...do you get bored being stuck with me?”

His head tilted as warmth infused my cheeks. “I don’t know how you could ever think a moment with you could be boring. You filled up my entire kitchen with junk food and hid my coconut oil.”

“Unfair accusations,” I said and then I laughed a little. “Okay. I did hide your oil.”

His chuckle warmed my face even more. “I don’t look at us as being stuck together, Trin,” he said, and air lodged in my chest. “Things have been—”