“Strong, broad hands rubbed down my spine, and I opened my eyes to find the room wholly black, Rhysand perched on the mattress beside me. 'Do you want anything to eat?' His voice was soft- tentative.

I didn't raise my head from the pillow. 'I feel... heavy again,' I breathed, voice breaking.

Rhys said nothing as he gathered me up into his arms. He was still in his jacket, as if he'd just come in from wherever he'd been talking with Cassian.

In the dark, I breathed in his scent, savoured his warmth. 'Are you all right?'

Rhys was quiet for a long minute. 'No.'

I slid my arms around him, holding him tightly.

'I should have found another way,' he said.

I stroked my fingers through his silken hair.

Rhys murmured, 'If she...' His swallow was audible. 'If she showed up at this house...' I knew who he meant. 'I would kill her. Without even letting her speak. I would kill her.'

'I know.' I would, too.

'You asked me at the library,' he whispered. 'Why I... Why I'd rather take all of this upon myself. Tonight is why. Seeing Mor cry is why. I made a bad call. Tried to find some other way around this shithole we're in.' And had lost something- Mor had lost something- in the process.

We held each other in silence for minutes. Hours. Two souls, twining in the dark. I lowered my shields, let him in fully. His mind curled around mine.

'Would you risk looking into it- the Ouroboros?' I asked.

'Not yet,' was all Rhys said, holding me tighter. 'Not yet.”