I waited, shaking, yet eager for the blade to slice through my skin. For a long while, the only sound in the room was that of our ragged breathing. The silence broke when Eros asked, “Does Alezzander know—that you’re Creatura?” “Yes,” I said, with my eyes closed. “And he did nothing?” “He tried, but his family stopped him.” “Tried what?” “He strangled me.” “He should have killed you.” His grip on my hair tightened, and I let out a short cry. “Open your eyes and look at me.” I parted my lids. His platinum stare grew wide. “Look at yourself,” he said, lifting the dagger from my throat and placing the blade in front of my face. On the mirrored blade, a pair of green reptilian eyes looked back at me. “You have no place in this world,” Eros said. “Not even in hell.” Slowly, I turned to view him. I placed the palm of my hand on his cheek and looked into his eyes. His lids closed for a moment. The creased lines between his brows softened. I reached for his hand, which was still grasping the dagger.
