bChapter /bb170 /b

    At no moment does he make me feel that what he said isn’t serious. I don’t see a trace of annoyance on his face–not even when I spend more than an hour talking alone to the tombstones while he remains by my side every second. We return to the castle, and I don’t miss the nces from the staff and the saciadoras who watch me from the top of the stairs, thinking they’re doing a good job hiding. He follows the direction of my gaze and gestures to one of his workers.

    “Please see to finding the homes of each one and returning them to their ce of origin. Their services are ino /ilonger required.”

    The young man’s eyes widen in astonishment; however, he says nothing.

    “Of course, sir.”

    He withdraws without turning his back, and we continue on our way to the abandoned library I used to escape to so often in my first weeks here. We descend the stairs, our shoulders brushing.

    “Why did you do that?” I ask in a low voice.

    “I haven’t touched any of them since I met you. It’s a waste of resources to keep them here.”

    “You’re only doing it for the resources?”

    I make a face and raise my eyebrows, not quite believing it. I feel him everywhere when he manages to trap me against the wall of the staircase. I ce one hand on his chest while the other is caught by his, just inches above my head.

    “Do you want me to tell you I want them gone because just looking at them bothers me? That I feel like an idiot for having so many women

    under my roof when I only care about one living and sleeping by my side? Do you want me to tell you that just thinking about tasting them makes my stomach turn?” He rests his forehead against mine and brushes my lips. “Because all of that is true.”

    My stomach tightens under the intensity of his gaze.

    “Keep your hands to yourselves and get down here already!” a familiar voice shouts.

    I can’t hide my smile. I slip away from Cassian’s prison and descend the remaining steps toward my little corner, which looks exactly as I remember it. On the table, a candle is burning low, and on it, sitting, is the cheerful smander. Ank bounces on the wax that melts under

    her fiery feet. I approach quickly until I’m close enough to crouch and put my face at her level.

    “You have no idea how much I’ve missed you, girl,” Ank exims with a strangled voice, as if she’s about to cry. “I was worried sick about

    you.b” /b

    “Ank, I couldn’t see you through the fire thesest few weeks. We think Ciro has protective spells over the whole vi.”

    The fire fairy nods emphatically, as if sniffing back her nose. Her tears evaporate as quickly as they spring from her ming eyes.

    b“/bThank you, Ank.” I give her head a gentle tap as a caress. “I really appreciate your concern.”

    I take one of the chairs around the table, and Cassian follows suit. For a while, we just look at each other, unsure what to say, until the

    smander breaks the silence.

    “So, how are we going to protect her?”

    “By fighting, as always.”

    “You’re strong, but you can’t fight the shapeshifters alone, and you can’t kill the Pure; you’ll need them.”

    #T’ll kill them if they try to hurt ra.”

    “Are you aware you’d need me for that?” 1 reply.

    “I can always break them,” he answers with an arrogant smile.

    “Do they know what it is?”

    “No. And I’d like to keep it that way.”

    “If they find out she can keep perpetuating the race…” Ank warns.

    “No one is going to use me as if I were just a womb to bear children,” I interrupt.

    “Of course not,” Cassian agrees, taking my hand and caressing my knuckles. “We’ll kill them before that idea even crosses their minds.”

    He forces a smile, though Ank doesn’t seem very convinced. I think they keep talking, but my mind has already drifted far away. I start looking for possible solutions and escapes to this tragedy that could happen at any moment. bIf /bI let my mind wander down the darkest paths, I see myself used, humiliated, abused. All to perpetuate a race that supposedly is also part of me and that would very likely have no qualms aboutmitting the worst horrors against me.

    A risky idea–one might even say a crazy one–crosses my mind. I don’t give myself much time to think it through. I suddenly stand up, drawing both their attention.

    “I’ll be right back.”

    Cassian makes a move to follow me, but I gesture for him to stay. I climb the stairs, leave the library, and head for the room of the only person

    I think can help me, the one who has shown she’s willing to support me in my most horrible and reckless ideas.

    Evanora…