Page 177 of Lady of Starfire

“What’s best for me is you,” Cass answered, gaze following him as Cyrus paced in a small circle, dragging both his hands through his hair.

If you can’t see that all you do is damage everyone around you, then I will keep reminding you until you believe it.

“Cyrus.”

His fingers tightened on the strands, tugging at the roots.

No one wants you, Cyrus.

“Cyrus.”

His eyes closed.

If you can’t see that all you do is damage everyone around you, then I will keep reminding you until you believe it.

Hands on his face.

A brow pressing to his.

“Talk to me, Cyrus. If you don’t want to do this, I understand. I get it. I understand if what I said to you was too unforgivable.”

“What are you talking about?” Cyrus rasped, fingers still tugging at his scalp.

“I will not ask this of you if it is not something you want anymore. I understand, Cyrus,” Cassius said again, a hand reaching up and pulling his own from his hair one at a time.

“You think I do not want to?”

“I think I hurt you and do not deserve to ask this of you anymore,” Cass answered. “And I do not want you to feel guilty over that.”

Cyrus’s brows pinched together. “Then what will you do? Take another?”

“No.”

“You need a Source, Cass.”

“If I have learned anything, it’s that there is always a workaround—”

“This is not that,” Cyrus interrupted. “This is… You need this. I thought you understood that.”

He stepped away from him in frustration.

“I understand, but I can’t give that control to anyone but you.”

“It can’t be me!” Cyrus said, the words raw and agonized as they clawed up his throat. “Can’t you see that?”

“Cyrus…”

But now that he’d said it, he couldn’t stop. The mugweed and the alcohol loosened his tongue, and his thoughts spilled out before he could stop them. “I can’t ruin you like I ruined them, Cassius. You speak of being deserving? You deserve so much more than what I can give you. I couldn’t save Merrik. I made Thia believe we were twin flames, convinced her to offer up a piece of her soul—”

He was cut off when he was pulled through the air, Cassius grabbing his hand and Traveling them. When he blinked, he stood in the foyer of the Greybane manor. Before he could ask what they were doing there, a woman stepped into view.

“Lord Cassius? I did not know we were expecting you tonight,” Magdalena said, wiping her hands on her apron. “If you give me a few moments, I can get your rooms prepared.”

“Thank you, but that will not be necessary. Is my father in?” Cassius asked, hand still wrapped tightly about Cyrus’s.

Magdalena’s brow furrowed. “Yes. I believe he is in his study. Would you like me to fetch him?”

“No, thank you. I will find him,” Cassius said, tugging Cyrus after him as he started down a hall.

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