Page 148 of Claimed In Darkness

Until he speaks like Zephiran is already dead.

"He will not survive this war."

The breath leaves my lungs.

And suddenly—I know.

I made a mistake.

That this was never about myself.

That I never stopped being his, no matter how hard I tried.

Because no matter what I did?—

No matter how many times I walked away?—

I would rather burn this world to the ground than let them take hurt him.

This makes me afraid.

I am beginning to wonder…

If I never really left him at all.

49

ZEPHIRAN

Istop waiting.

I stop thinking.

I stop fucking breathing.

If I hesitate, I will lose her.

For good this time.

The battlefield is still wet with rain, but the bodies beneath my boots are already growing cold.

They sent men to kill me.

They sent her to kill me.

And she tried.

She did. And yet, I am the one still standing.

She thought she could walk away.

Naira thought she could leave me bleeding, let me rot in the ruin she created, and I would just let her.

I am coming for her.

I always was.

I move fast.

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