He could hear the terror in Alyx's voice, but the terror in his own heart was even stronger.
She reached out for him—and at her touch, he recoiled.
“Not now,” he said, his voice tight as he struggled for control.
He forced himself to breathe slowly and deeply.
He could see again. The darkness around him was gone.
But he could still feel it. Steele had been right—there was a small cloud of darkness in his chest. It was still there. He couldn't hear Steele anymore—but Steele could come back.
He would come back. Braeden knew that with absolute certainty.
Steele wouldn't stop until he'd dragged Braeden back into their ranks—and until he'd taken down Alyx with him.
I'd rather die than harm her, Braeden thought furiously.
“Are you hurt?” she asked, reaching out for him once more.
The moment her hand touched his bare skin, he recoiled again with horror.
The dark cloud inside him had flared up—and it took all of his control to fight back the mocking laughter that echoed in his head.
I'll keep her safe, no matter what. You won't touch her.
Even if that meant that he couldn't touch her either.
Even if it meant that he'd have to let go of that new, fragile hope. Those new dreams of a home they'd build, of a life in the sun.
“Sorry,” he said, sitting up to avoid touching her again.
He couldn't taint her with this thing inside him. He couldn't let the darkness touch her.
“It was all a bit much today. I'm more tired than I thought. You should rest, too. I'll take the couch.”
“The couch? What—” There was pain in her voice.
He could hear it, even as he all but fled from the room, closing the bedroom door behind him.
The sound of it closing echoed loudly in his head, as if it wasn't made of wood but stone and metal.
He'd just closed the door on something else. Something unbelievably rare and precious.
But he couldn't be close to her. Not with Steele in his mind.
It's already begun, Steele hissed. You're one of us. Surrender; it will make it easier. You'll destroy everything you touch.
No, Braeden thought, clenching his hands in his hair in fury and despair.
Behind the door, he could hear Alyx call out his name. She sounded pissed off—and worried.
Worried for him.
His heart ached like never before. He'd never loved before.
And now that he knew what it was like to have his mate close, death seemed preferable to life without her.
But those were the only two options left to him now. As long as this taint was inside him, his love was dangerous.