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Azzurra had barely closed the guest room door before stomping in and locking it behind her. Alarico paused in the doorway, startled by the click of the bolt then he waited, silent, for whatever explanation she might offer. He remembered too well how things had fallen apart between them before; he’d promised himself not to block her path or follow her again.

Elettra inhaled several deep breaths and turned to face him. Her legs trembled with nerves, but she fought to steady herself, shifting weight from foot to foot and twisting her fingers together. Alarico cleared his throat and spoke first.

“It’s rude to pull someone out of a conversation like that,” he said levelly.

A she-wolf had been flirting with him earlier. Elettra’s reaction could be jealousy, or mere wounded pride at their eyes meeting though she had always insisted she felt nothing for him. Maybe she simply wanted him to vanish.

“Who was that girl?” she asked, eyes fixed on the floor, voice shaking just enough to reveal how fragile she felt.

“Excuse me?” Alarico snapped before he meant to.

“Do you think you have the right to question me about her? I don’t owe you anything,” she shot back, curt.

Their gazes locked for a moment and his cool expression made her chest ache. He tried to step around her, but she suddenly planted herself in his path, nearly blocking him. Startled, Elettra faltered; she braced for a collision only for him to catch her waist and draw her flush against his chest. For a beat, she simply opened her eyes and stared up into him.

Alarico found himself lost in those blue depths. He had longed to find solace there, to make a home of her stare, but that comfort had always been denied him. In spite of the kingdom’s changes, in spite of humans’ newfound freedom, she had not wanted him. He had learned to let go.

If she had been his obsession, he’d have claimed her and kept her bound to him. But his feeling wasn’t obsession; it was love. True love asked for another’s happiness even if that happiness meant existing without you. So he’d taught his heart to die a little every day so she could smile.

For a moment his features softened; then he schooled his face, helping her find her balance and stepping back as if the contact had burned him. “Get out of my way,” he said calmly. She didn’t move she stood rooted before the door, chin quivering.

“I…” she breathed, lost for words. Alarico, noticing the tremor, exhaled.

“I did what you wanted. I won’t follow you anymore. If this is just because our eyes met if that’s all it takes then I’m sorry. I’ll stop looking at you”

He froze as she suddenly closed the distance, arms wrapping around his torso. He stiffened; every muscle betrayed him. He wanted to return the embrace but remembered the sting of her earlier rejections. She didn’t want him she’d said so. Still, his heart thundered against his ribs.

“Has someone hurt you?” he asked, concern sharpening his voice as panic and a thousand possible scenarios raced through his mind. “Tell me and I’ll” Fury rose at the thought of anyone harming her.

“No, it’s not that,” she whispered, sobs shaking her frame. Alarico grasped her arms, intending to pull her to him; instead, he held her there firmly in his hold.

“I’m sorry,” she choked out. “I’m sorry I didn’t consider your feelings or mine. But I… I love you, Alarico.”

Her confession struck him like thunder. For a moment the world narrowed to the sound of his own pulse. Pure elation flooded him; he tightened his arms around her before words could betray him. Her body trembled in his grasp.

“I was terrified,” Elettra continued, voice small and raw. “I was afraid everything would go back to how it used to be afraid human freedom would be taken away. I couldn’t stand your coldness. I told myself I would survive, that I could soothe myself, but every time you ignored me my heart broke into pieces. When I saw that woman talking to you, I felt something burn inside me. I couldn’t I couldn’t keep it in. I’m sorry for pushing you away. Just give me one chance. Please. I love you so much that it hurts.”

She pulled back enough to meet his eyes, wiping at the trailing tears and hiccupping. Alarico gently brushed the wet streaks from her cheeks.

“You’re forgiven, Elettra.” He didn’t wait for more; he closed the distance and crushed his lips to hers. Her eyes widened as his tongue brushed her mouth and she opened to him. Her hands threaded into his hair; they kissed with a fierce, hungry tenderness.

After a breath, Alarico rested his forehead to hers and rumbled against her lips, “I love you so fucking much,” then pinned her against the door with a kiss that drew a sharp gasp from her.

“You want to open all the gifts before bed?” Azzurra asked, grinning as Cesario bobbed his head with excitement.

They were walking down the hallway when a hand clamped over Azzurra’s mouth. Someone yanked Cesario from her arms and dragged them both struggling and flailing toward the mansion’s basement.

Panic clawed through her like ice. She thrashed, but no force she summoned could undo what was happening. She had survived tragedy before; she had no desire to relive that nightmare. Her heart screamed with a stubborn, petrified resolve: she could not lose him again.