"So what now?" Nessa asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "What are you going to do, Em?"
Emerald pressed her hand flat against the closed book, her thumb brushing the edge of the cover like it might bleed another secret. "I don't know." She exhaled. "But I'll make a wild bet that whatever he plans to do… it won't hurt me. Not directly, at least."
"You're basing that on the fact that he's your mate?" Nessa asked with a raised brow.
Emerald nodded. "Exactly. Mates protect. Even cursed, ancient ones."
Nessa gave her a long look. "You used to say the same thing about Rick."
The room chilled.
Emerald didn't answer right away. Her mind flicked, unwillingly, back to the shadows of her past. Rick's hands. His voice. The way he'd said I love you and then shattered her trust one cruelty at a time.
Her jaw tensed. "This isn't the same."
"You sure?" Nessa's tone was softer now. "Because obsession and fate don't always play nice together."
