That I’d indeed hurt Rorn. That maybe in his own narcissistic way, he truly did still care for me.

I closed the door and walked down the first flight of stairs. The chatter and shouting from the kitchen staff beneath the next tower echoed down the tunnels of halls below. A comfort as I leaned back against the stone on the landing and tried to slow my heart.

The door opened and closed.

I nearly whimpered as I tried to muster the courage to tell Rorn to give me a few more minutes, and as I tried to ignore the desire to apologize for something I could never be sorry for doing.

His scent was a cool compress in the middle of an unbearable summer night. “Nice crown, wildflower.” The green of his eye shined in the dark of the stairwell. He slowed as he took the last stair to where I was flattened to the wall of the landing.

“What…” I swallowed, without words, and blinked continuously. “How?”

A black top hat shadowed his scarred eye, but it was him. My wolf was here, and dressed in a fitted black ensemble that hugged his impressive physique far too well.

Scythe looked me over from head to toe, taking his time—as though we had all of it to waste. Then he seized my waist and my face, and my lips with his.

Ice melted within my chest.

My body fell limp against the wall. His mouth was soft, but his kiss was hard and still, his inhale of breath searing.

I sighed, clasping his shoulders, then I remembered myself and broke away. “You cannot be here. How are you even…?” My heart began to race. “Scythe, it’s not safe.”

He dragged his nose over my cheek, undeterred. “I made you a promise, and then I failed you.”

“You didn’t. I know it was…” I peered over his shoulder to the low-lit stairs beside us, fear locking my spine. “A shock.”

“It was, but it doesn’t matter. I intend to keep it.” He kissed me again, softer and groaning. “I intend to keep you.”

“How?” I asked, both relieved and tempted to shake some sense into him. “I cannot simply leave. You cannot—”

He hushed me and squeezed my waist, pressing his lips to the corner of my mouth.

Then he tensed and seized my wrist. “He cuffed you?” The question was a low snarl I didn’t need to answer as he inspected the other. “No. I think we’ll stay a short while.” He kissed my reddened skin and stepped back. “Just to make a few things clear.”

“Clear?” My eyes widened. “What do you intend to do?” He couldn’t mean to do anything, surely, but then why else would he be here… “Scythe, no. You mustn’t do anything.”

The shadows around us darkened, and I was left chilled by his warm chuckle as he disappeared.