didn't

rvive that-but the calm on Lorenzo's face afterward. The way his hand had closed

She sat up in the bed, pulling the sheet to her c

iolence before.

weapons. A hand raised not to kill-but to control, to erase. Pa

er most was not L

art of her hadn't

ad w

pened with

flin

He looked unchanged by the night-as if killing a man in a room

awake,"

no

e studied her in that way he had-like he wasn't ju

ed calmly. "Most people do, aft

und the sheet. "I didn't

in his eyes then.

lked

t retreat

zation sta

she felt the heat of him, the faint scent

fraid," he

es

t you s

ened. "I didn't

ed between them, fr

just hovering near her jaw. Clos

murmured. "Fear does

lse sk

to let her breathe again. "

he

. "Before the worl

s different

forgi

e'd left on the chair for her-too big, heavy on her shoulders. She wrapped it tighter,

k why," Lorenz

y w

kille

wed. "I al

d at her,

o me," she continued quietly. "You d

le curved

That kind of understa

hen. Properly. Her

t to disappe

her before she

ached out and adjusted the collar of her coat-

ecause I don't keep

eath c

f her hair, brushing them across her face. She tucked them

ghtly-not touchi

what they saw

ook he

said. "They saw me choose

ps. Her throat. The place where he

standing when you

mach ti

this time, but heat. Aware

t me,"

e

gers beneath her chin, tilting her face up. T

stop," he

ips p

idn't

a promise. His breath warmed her cheek, clo

d could catch up. A soft inhale

not

urse

mewhere beyond th

ment s

expression shuttered. Whatever had b

ntrance, posture rigid. "Si

once. "I expe

ith something sharper. Awareness. This world

, she caught her reflec

n't loo

uncertain-b

beneath fear and history and he

inno

te

ack at her, as if

opped, meant

becoming," he sai

ter-almos

watch

she didn't shri