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I imagined she’d immediately passed back out. Knew she always had bags under her eyes every time we were gone.

I quietly clicked open the door, then stumbled when I found her sitting upright.

Her legs crisscrossed.

Black hair in a braid and hazel eyes sad.

“I was worried about you,” she whispered.

“Not worth the worry, Lena.”

She barely shook her head. “You’re worth everything.”

A smile tugged at one edge of my mouth. Softness at this creature who’d always made me feel like I hung the fucking moon and the sun in her sky.

Problem was, she hung mine.

“You wouldn’t think that if you knew the things I’ve done.”

Killing.

Cruel.

Merciless.

“But it’s a part of who you are.”

Which was the whole reason she shouldn’t have any part of me.

“A part of who you all are,” she added.

Protectiveness welled. “Want to shelter you from it.”

I hadn’t wanted her to know. Had appealed to Silas to keep her in the dark.

It hadn’t taken her long to figure it out, anyway. Too keen and aware. Heart so fucking knowing.

Elena’s head barely shook. “You can’t. It’s a part of me, too.”

“No.” It whipped out.

“It is. I was molded by the same circumstances.”

But we’d kept her from them the best that we could.

“I want to give you different circumstances,” I rumbled. “Provide you a better life.”

Wanted to shield rather than subject.

“I already told you I choose this life.” Her gaze intensified. Drifted and swept over my bare chest.

Heat lashed against my flesh. I dropped my attention to the ground like it could stamp out the reaction.

“You’re tired.”

“Yeah, need to get a couple hours.”

I started for the door, only she lifted her covers the way she’d done the night before last.