“You think I don’t know what it’s like to loathe yourself, to hate that you want something you shouldn’t?” His voice shakes, his vulnerability laid bare. “You think I haven’t been tortured by it every day, knowing that I should hate you for all that happened, but I can’t? I’m drawn to you like a f*****g school boy, and it’s almost pathetic the lengths I’d go to have you, to keep you as mine. Even if you’d gone with Sebastian, goddess knows I’d have hunted you both down. Torn through anyone who got in my way. Bloodied my hands, my claws, to drag you back to me. You could run, you could try, but not even the goddess could keep you from me. Because you’re mine, Briar. You always have been. And I’d paint the earth red before I let anyone, including you, take that away.”
“Tavian…” My voice is
