My arm was draped awkwardly over my chest, like she was still there to support it. I could still smell her on my skin. Like I’d slept in a thunderstorm. Like I was still in a dream. I sat up and scrubbed my palms over my face to rub the sleep from my eyes. To wake myself up enough to realize what I’d done. I told her I’d go along with everything. Embrace being a shadow walker. Work for Balthazar. And I’d meant every word. Was being a slave to the man who gave Anaya orders to collect the dead what I wanted to do with my eternity? No. But not having to say good-bye to her…I couldn’t help but believe the sacrifice would be worth it. I’d never loved a girl before. Not really. Not like this. But I loved Anaya. I loved her so much it was hard to breathe when she was around. It was even harder to breathe when she wasn’t. And not just because my lungs were failing. I knew now that Noah wasn’t someone I could trust. No way was I going to end up like him.