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Valen snarls, his close proximity crackling with threat, “No.”

I flinch. “I didn’t say anything.”

“You didn’t need to. I can see your martyring guilt all over your face while you’re making foolish, self-destructive plans.”

My jaw drops. “I w—” Valen’s glare has me switching tactics. “Look, I’m a very talented thief. Now that I know what I’m up against, I can steal that statue no problem. I’ll be in and out in under an hour. Then we’ll have Tori’s body safe and away from Alasdair while we figure things out.”

“Are you out of your damn mind? Did those rings cook your human brain as well? Tell me, how would you even get the statue here? You cannot use your rings.”

I scoff, “They’ll be⁠—”

“Falling off your hands when they melt through your idiotic human bones. And do not dare underestimate Alasdair. I’m sure he’s set up all sorts of traps for you.”

My mouth opens and closes, but no words come out. He’s right. I’m worthless. My head falls back on the pillows and my shoulders drop. A thickness in my throat makes breathing difficult. I mumble, “It’s what I deserve.”

I don’t dare look at Valen when he answers evenly, “You do not deserve to be mutilated.”

“I left her.” My eyes burn. “I left both her and Jinx trapped to save myself.”

“Your sense of guilt is as astounding as it is foolish. You’d be imprisoned and tortured if you’d stayed, just like you will be if you attempt to go back to the statue before healing.”

I press my lips together to keep “But then at least we would be together” on the inside.

Valen sighs, leaning away from me and rubbing his forehead. “Listen, magician.”

I scoff, and some of my swagger re-emerges to hide my pain. “Are you going to comfort me, blueblood?”

“Don’t make me regret it, but yes. You did the right thing coming here. Astoria gave you the rune, correct?”

I nod.

“Then you were following her directive. She knew Alasdair could not follow you here and that I would be here to protect you. The wards around the estate are impenetrable. Not even the Archweaver could get in. Do you understand?”

I loathe to admit it, but he does have a point. “Yes.”

“Besides, I do not believe what you experienced while unconscious was a dream. You were very close to death, which allowed you to pass to the space between our existence and the Weave.”

My breath catches. “What does that mean?”

“It means that the body in the statue is just that, a body. Jinx is a demon. She is from the Weave and will take Astoria’s soul there to keep her safe until we break the curse. If I’m right, which I assure you I am, then Alasdair will pour his efforts into luring her soul back into his cage to resume his feeding. Otherwise, her soul will rejoin the Tapestry and forever be safe from him.”

My head is spinning from all this information, but one thought returns to me over and over. If it was real… then Tori finally told me she loves me.

He arches an elegant brow. “Do you feel better?”

I exhale softly, a warmth filling my chest. “Yes.”

Valen is unfazed by my breathy whisper and continues, “Now that we’re done with your misguided remorse, let us get back to actionable conversation, like finding out more about what Alasdair has become.” Valen sighs and leans on his fist. “It’s a shame Dimitar has Tori’s old grimoire. Her notes would’ve been helpful in our crusade. I doubt breaking into the Archweaver’s archives to find the inspiration for her revenge is a valid option. I’m sure that’s exactly what Alasdair wants.”

I groan and scrub my face, sharp jolts of pain from my various injuries helping to focus me. “I just know Dimitar is already using this to weasel his way to more power with the Magistrate. If officers aren’t already at my place waiting for me, then the Guild surely is onto us. There goes that option. I was going to go retrieve my bolt pack hidden there.”

My hands flop down, and I flinch away from Valen’s vicious glare. “What?” I ask.

Valen’s lip curls and his tone sharpens. “Why the hell would leaving even be an option?”

“Um, so I can go home to recover? Regroup? Figure shit out? That thing you just chewed my ass out about?”

“Absolutely not, you stubborn idiot. Alasdair, an unknown, horrific new kind of magical creature that feeds on suffering, is hunting you. Dimitar, a magician of unknown transformation limits, is out for your blood. I will not allow them to succeed in making you their prey.”