Chapter 62

I told him about the dream, the goddess, the “mistake” that was made.

He snorted. “The mistake being that the shadow wounded you instead of me?”

“It seems like it,” I said. “But did I succeed in saving you? Are you all right?”

“Yes.” He paused. “Why did you do it?”

I looked down at my carefully folded hands. My veins hummed with nervous energy, and my fingers wanted so badly to move; to twitch and fiddle and distract me from the way Dane was looking at me.

“I don’t know. It was instinct,” I said, truthfully. “I saw what was about to happen and I couldn’t stand the thought of you…”

I cut off and swallowed. “But I’m glad you’re okay.”

Dane let out a quiet breath and leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “I’ve had some time to think about the things I’ve learned; that you weren’t working for the Reeds all that time.”

To my shock and rising horror, he reached out and grasped my hand. My small, pale palm trembled against his. “Dane, you shouldn’t-”

“No,” his voice was harsh. “I have to. Aurora, I’ve done terrible things to you. For years, I’ve caused you nothing but pain. At the time, I thought you deserved to suffer the way I had. But you were innocent.”

I closed my eyes. Tears burned behind my lids and threatened to fall. It felt like the guilt would eat me alive. “Don’t say this. Not now.”

His hand tightened around mine. “I have to. I’m…not always a good man. I can be a ruthless bastard when I have to. But I’ve always tried to keep one rule: don’t harm the innocent.”

“Honor,” I whispered.

“If that’s what you want to call it.” His voice was just as quiet as mine. “I was so certain of myself. But it turns out, I don’t always know who the innocent are. Not even when they’re right in front of me, telling me, for years.”

He tugged my hand, and I was forced to look up at him.

What I saw in his face, the tenderness there… A fist closed around my heart. I couldn’t breathe. “You didn’t deserve any of it. Words can never make up for what I’ve done to you, but I’m sorry.”

“Dane-”

But he didn’t stop speaking. He drew me closer, until my hand was pressed against his heart, until he could lean his forehead against mine, the way Holden had a moment ago. “I will spend the rest of my life trying to make up for what I’ve done. I want…”