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“… and where you begin.”

For a long moment neither of us spoke. She reached for my hand. Not to pull me closer. Just to hold it.

“I’m still here,” she whispered.

The words hit harder than any blow I’d ever taken.

“And that’s exactly why I need him.”

She frowned. “Who?”

I looked down at my hands. Hands that ended wars. Hands that’d held her a heartbeat before. “The man I buried. The man I swore I’d never become again.”

I straightened, knowing I was drawing a line between us.

“Whatever I have to do, I will.” I pulled my sweats back on. “You belong here, Nyssa.”

I looked at her.

Really looked at her.

“You still don’t understand what my love looks like.”

My voice was quiet.

Certain.

“But you will.”

28

NYSSA

You still don’t understand what my love looks like. His words echoed with the quiet thud of my bedroom door. But you will.

I lay there, then slowly drew the sheets across my naked body. A shiver coursed through me in the wake of his absence. One I knew I couldn’t warm. Something had changed in him in that training room. Maybe it happened to the both of us.

No.

Not the training room.

Before that.

I inhaled then pushed upwards. I gathered my panties and bra, pulling them back on before sliding from the bed. I gathered my clothes from the floor and pulled them back on. His touch still lingered, leaving behind an ache I couldn’t ease.

My phone sat on the seat under the window. I crossed the space and picked it up. The screen came to life. A message…

Not Vivienne this time.

Unknown.

I stilled. Swiped.

Attachment.

I opened the message… but there was nothing. Who sends an attachment with no message?

My thumb hovered over the file, play right there.