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An onyx eye darted to me like a strike of lightning.

A warning.

“No,” Silas muttered with a scuff of his palm down his face. “She’s most comfortable with Trevan. He’s like a brother.”

Not even close.

I bit down on my tongue like it would stop the guilt from flooding my face.

“Okay,” I agreed.

“Good,” Silas said. “Keep a close eye but loosen the reins.” He hesitated, then looked me point-blank. “Let her live her life the way she wants, the best that she can.”

I read the message loud and clear.

If she wanted someone, I was to let her.

Except I was pretty fucking certain he was not going to be okay with who that was.

SIXTY-THREE

TREVAN

Elena tapped her fingers across my chest where we were snuggled up in her bed. First rays of the morning glittered through her window, her grin so wide as she peered up at me with that dizzying affection radiating from her spirit.

Love.

I’d never really known what it meant until her. Until she’d bombed me with it.

I welcomed her every attack.

“You’re ridiculous,” she said, all flirt and tease, her head tucked on my shoulder.

“What if someone steals my pants?”

“Steals your pants?” She giggled. “Who?”

“Fuse. That asshole is a clepto.”

Elena giggled more. “So, you think you need to embroider your name into every pair of jeans you own?”

She’d discovered it one of the many times she’d peeled me out of them.

“Hell yeah. Hand stitched. Meems taught me.”

Her laughter turned soft. Laden with affection. “Of course, she did.”

“She’s the best, isn’t she?” I murmured toward the ceiling.

I was sure that woman had saved my life twenty times over. The way she’d taken me in. Fed me when I was young. Gave me a home when I’d come crawling to them in LA. Breathed belief and new hope into the lost.

“Literally the best. I don’t know what would have happened to us if we didn’t have her. She taught me so much.” Affection rolled out of Elena.

“Are you missing being home?”

I felt her hesitation. “A little…but would I change this?” Strands of black hair brushed across my chest. “Not for a million dollars.”

I grinned. “How about a billion?”