When the sun came up the next morning, everything changed.

She knew I’d depart that afternoon, and she couldn’t keep it together.

I was a soldier going off to war—and she was afraid I would leave her widowed.

Tears would come unexpectedly. Panic attacks would strike her and make her hyperventilate. All I could do was kiss her to calm her down, but another round came again…and again.

“Chérie.” My thumbs brushed away her tears as she sat beside me on the couch, her face puffy and red. She’d taken a few painkillers because the tears had brought on a headache she couldn’t defeat. “What happened when you were trapped in that bedroom with Gilbert?”

Her bottom lip trembled as she looked at me.

“I defeated them all—by myself. Nothing stopped me from getting to you. I was outnumbered ten to one. That made no difference. The same will happen tonight. I will slaughter them all, free the girls, and come back to you.”

She nodded slightly. “I just don’t understand why you can’t send someone else, pay them whatever they want.”

My thumbs continued to brush away her tears. “Because I’m the one who did this. I started the camp. I ignored Magnus and got all my men killed. I’m responsible for everything—and I will fix it. I’m not a coward.”

“I know you aren’t. But you should stay…for me.”

I shook my head. “Magnus would never stay. And I can’t let him go in alone. I need to be there to watch his back.”

“He doesn’t need you—”

“Doesn’t matter. Where he goes, I go. You understand that better than anybody.”

She gave a bigger nod through her tears, thinking of her sister.

“I’m going to leave you with Raven at Magnus’s house. You’ll be safe there if I don’t—”

“Don’t fucking say that.” Tears poured down her cheeks. “I don’t…I don’t want to hear that.”

It always hurt to watch her cry, but it hurt even more to see her like this. It was almost enough to make me back out so I could stay there with her.

Almost.

We arrived at the apartment.

She would normally take in the beautiful scenery with a mesmerized gaze.

But right now, she was too delirious to care about anything.

We took the elevator to the main floor and stepped inside.

Magnus and Raven were heard speaking, saying their goodbyes.

Raven sounded identical to Melanie when she spoke to him, tears in her throat. “I never thought I would have a man like this. I just got you…I’m not ready to let you go. You’re supposed to be my husband. We’re supposed to make babies. Please don’t take that away from me.”