ing Elara fe

s than either. It pulsed through her veins as she stood alone in the va

chose powe

sed to b

he wouldn't abandon her completely. Not after everything. Not afte

crept in l

t. He didn't need to. Truth, she was beginnin

wed beyond the glass walls. She pressed her palms against the windows, staring down at the

how he

ly, refusing to let t

shrink. Not for hi

pened with

this time-just a dark shirt with the sleeves rolled up, exposing forearms corded

than I expected

m fully. "I'

ing control," he s

roof," sh

ted slightly

used to pay," she said. "I

e stre

ded once. "You'l

efly-until he add

came an h

Nikolai placed a phone on the table between t

e," he said. "Say w

re he could change his mind

ang

ic

through, strained and sharp. "W

alive," she said quickly. "

en a sigh.

o

d felt

she said, forcing th

answer

la

't," she

" he snapped. "You don'

her voice shaking despite her effo

s not

ye, Fa

call before he

s she placed the pho

. He watched her quietly,

?" he

n, refusing to cry

ually

oy it," she snappe

"It doesn'

ent on, every

r felt like a cage-it

ls. Ignored his presence. Refused to respond wh

ded by doing n

didn't threaten. He

w, that wa

d a glass off the counter, letting

lai said calmly

she re

pa

over, and knelt to pic

d her more than an

e to do that,"

" he sai

, she coul

pas

n w

notice things s

in anger. He ate little, slept less, and carried

he thought she wasn't looking-not with hung

righte

f concern, then this wasn't

at midnight, unable to rest. Nikolai was already there,

leep?" h

she re

the

, then sat ac

punish me?" sh

harpened.

," she said. "For callin

ar," he replied. "Fear

u trying to teac

s steadily. "U

echoed be

anding o

is," he said quietly. "And ho

ed. "So you're pr

ways

d. "By loc

ping yo

nce

ou're so powerful," she asked, "

"Because men like him don't just los

"And what about

ned. "We burn

gazes

c pulsed in the s

abruptly.

"The balcony. Yo

used.

es

heavier than i

ing softly below. Elara rested her h

footsteps

place one cage with a

"It feels

still fighting t

d I be fighting

voice. "The people who would d

uldn't?" sh

on. "If I wanted you destroyed,

art st

you want?" s

i hesi

ion told her

them could say mo

screen-and swore

it?" El

id. "And it's cl

ked. "What ki

rimly. "The kind that

ns wailed faintl

ce her capture, fear r

hatever w

st after Nik

oming fo