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“Rhett.”

“I won’t.”

That shuts him up. Because he knows me. For all our arguments, all the decades we’ve spent wanting to strangle each other… he knows there are lines I would never cross.

And hurting her deliberately?

That’s one of them.

I would never hurt Sage.

Not like that.

Malakai moves beside him, and his eyes meet mine.

No threat.

He doesn’t need one.

I hold his gaze. After a moment, the warning leaves his eyes.

Sage notices. “You guys are so fucking weird.”

“Centuries together,” I say.

“Still weird.”

“Fair.”

She looks toward the field then me. “What are the rules?”

Fuck.

The question does something vicious to me. “Rules?”

“You’re the Reaper.”

She takes one step backward. “Tell me how to play.”

My entire body goes still.

Her heartbeat accelerates.

Thump.

Mine answers.

I put the mask on.

Her breath catches.

There she is. My Bride.

No. Sage. That’s more important.

I step backward. “Stay on the path.”

“Why?”