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“I love you, too,” she said softly. “That’s why we get out together, or not at all. If I’m going to die—” I made a sound of protest that she ignored, “—then it’ll be at your side.”

Rationally, her words made sense. But everything in me rebelled at the idea anyway.

“I’m never not going to protect you,” I said. “If it can only be one of us, it’s always gonna be you, baby. I’ll fight like hell to get us both out of here, but that’s how it is. You won’t change my mind on this.”

I could tell by her face that Claire wanted to argue more, but she took a deep breath and said instead, “Let’s not let it come to that, then.”

The fight suddenly went out of both of us, and we sat on the floor of the vault, leaning back against the wall. We linked our hands between us, and even though we were in the fucking worst possible situation, I was at least glad to be with her.

“At least we’re together,” Claire said softly, echoing my thoughts, and I smiled weakly. I lifted her fingers to my lips, kissing onto her palm and wrist.

“I’m so incredibly proud of you,” I murmured against her skin. “You were reckless, and you scared me half to death, but you looked like a queen up there. You told the truth. Whatever happens, I couldn’t be prouder to know you, to love you, to be yours.”

Claire smiled, and she was so beautiful, even during this shit show, that I leaned in and kissed her again.

“Remember when we first met, and I was afraid to skin a rabbit?” Her eyes shone with amusement.

In spite of everything, I chuckled. “Yeah.”

“I bet you didn’t think I’d ever try to take down an empire.”

“No,” I admitted. “But…maybe sooner than you think, I knew you were brave enough to.”

“I wasn’t brave at all, in the beginning,” she protested. “I was a coward.”

I shrugged. “I never thought you were. You were overwhelmed and sometimes difficult, but it was because you’d lost everything. You were protecting yourself in the only way you knew how. But to come back from it the way you did? I always thought that was pretty damn brave.”

She rested her head on my shoulder. “You taught me how to be brave. That it wasn’t about being fearless; it was about being terrified and doing it anyway. You taught me to survive, but you also taught me about having a life worth living. Whatever happens, I’ll always be grateful. And I’ll always be your girl.”

My throat suddenly felt tight, so I wrapped an arm around her and kissed the top of her head. When I managed to talk again, it came out as a hoarse whisper.

“It’s you and me, baby. Always.”

It was less than an hour later when the heavy vault door opened again, and a bunch of goons with electric rods came in. Claire instinctively backed into a corner, as far away as she could get, and I put myself between her and them.

“The Prince of Pain has requested that we prepare the ritual chamber for his arrival,” Alastor announced. “We’ve created one in the main area, and we’ll escort you there now, Vessel.”

“She has a name,” I snarled, shielding Claire with my body. “And you’re not taking her anywhere.”

Alastor raised an eyebrow. “If it were up to me, you’d already be dead, Wastelander scum. Lucky for you, the Prince has a score to settle. Bought you a few extra hours with your lady. You should genuflect at his altar.”

I spat at his feet. “I’ll pass.”

“John—” Claire said behind me, pleading.

I had nothing to defend her with but my bare hands. Against one or two unarmed attackers, that probably would’ve been enough. Maybe even three. But not seven, all armed with stun rods.

I didn’t care. I punched Alastor in the face anyway, so hard he toppled over. He yelped like a little bitch, and two more came at me. I took down the second quickly, but they swarmed us, and the crack of the rod against my skin sent me, face first, to the floor. My muscles spasmed and locked, and the pain was intense.

“Don’t hurt him!” Claire cried, and there was a grunt as she shoved one of the men away from me. “Listen, I’ll do whatever you want. Just don’t hurt him anymore.”

No, I screamed in my head, but my jaw was still locked and I couldn’t say anything.

“Look at this,” Alastor sneered at his buddies. “The Vessel thinks she’s in charge. We’re gonna show you how wrong you are, Vessel. You’re gonna wish you went the same way as your old man.”

Claire shrieked as one of them grabbed and dragged her across the floor. My muscles were slowly unlocking, but not enough, so I ended up doing a pathetic sort of belly crawl toward her, panting with effort. The other Order guys burst into laughter, watching me.

Claire clawed at the two men dragging her across the room and went dead weight. They nearly dropped her, and in the struggle, one of their pistols fell to the floor. She threw herself toward it, her hand outstretched. For a split second, I hoped she might be able to fight back…and then one of the others stomped on her wrist with a sickening crunch.