l was close enough now to see the way his muscles trembled, the way his claws tore new grooves into the floor every time he fought the urge to spring.
“Look at me,” I said softly. “Just for a second.”
He forced his eyes open.
They were a horror.
Pools of black with the thinnest ring of molten color around the center, like a candle flame drowning in ink.
“Aria,” he said, voice barely human.
“Yes,” I said.
“You shouldn’t… see me… like this,” he grated. “I’m not… safe.”
“You’re more dangerous to me when you’re pretending nothing is wrong,” I said. “At least now I can see the monster. It’s the hidden ones that kill you while they’re smiling.”
He flinched.
His hands spasmed against the floor, claws gouging deeper.
The curse surged; I could feel it in the air—thick, pressing, reaching
