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But the moment I opened my eyes I knew that was a lie. Alaric was a man capable of violence. Deadly violence. But he’d never ever direct that violence at me.

And that was why this was dangerous.

I reached inside and pulled the nightdress free.

Sheer fabric shivered as it dropped.

I held the nightdress against my chest.

The storm raged outside.

And for the first time in my life, I wanted someone to see me.

But not just anyone.

Alaric.

20

ALARIC

The storm followed me home. Rain hammered the windshield hard enough to drown out the engine. I sat in the backseat of the car, feeling the familiar sway.

My hands rested on my thighs.

Still.

Too still.

The names refused to separate.

House of Ash.

Facility Nine.

Saint-Clair.

Nyssa.

She paid for my war.

They sat together now. One feeding the next. One leading directly to her.

I inhaled slowly.

Rain.

Ozone.

Pine.

It was going to be a bad storm.

“You sure you don’t need me tonight?” Rafe asked.

I knew what he meant.

“You’re better leading the others.” I answered. “I want you to find this… facility. Leaving nothing out of the report. I want to know it all.”