Page 269

For one horrible second, I thought she’d refuse.

I could almost hear the words… I am home.

Those words would gut me. But then⁠—

“Okay.”

I should’ve felt relief with the words. But I didn’t.

The drive back to Blackthorn was silent. Rafe drove. Ghost followed behind us. Brick remained with London and the Daughters. Nyssa sat beside me staring through the window. I could see her reflection now. Another gift from my returning sight.

Her profile in the glass. The curve of her cheek. Her eyes. Open. Somewhere else. I reached for her hand. She let me take it. That was worse. No resistance. No anger. Her fingers simply rested inside mine.

Cold.

I tightened my hold and she didn’t respond.

“Nyssa.”

Nothing.

Then her eyes shifted toward me. “What?”

I had a thousand questions.

What did Bethany tell you?

What happened behind that door?

Why do you look like you’ve gone somewhere I can’t fucking follow?

Instead—

“Are you alright?”

She looked back through the window. “No.”

One word.

Honest.

Brutal.

I waited but she offered nothing else. Neither did I.

Coward.

Blackthorn appeared through the trees. The gates opened before we reached them. Falcon stood near the entrance. Another man farther back. More than when we’d left.

Good.

Not enough.

Never enough.

The vehicle stopped. I climbed out and turned for Nyssa. She was already opening her own door. Another tiny thing that shouldn’t have mattered. But it did.

Knox appeared on the steps. He didn’t look at Nyssa.