His arms curled around her.
The scent of leather and wind still clung to him from the ride, and for a moment she was too stunned to speak.
She pushed at his chest, but he didn't move.
"Let me go, Alaric."
"No." His voice was low, overwhelmed. "Never. I can't."
She glared at him, her tears blurring his face. "You can't keep me like this. You can't drag me away every time I'm hurting. You can't cage me because you're afraid."
His jaw flexed. "Afraid?"
He laughed. "I am not afraid. I am furious. I am sick with the thought of you running. I am mad because the only thing in this world that can break me is you."
"Then why do you keep breaking me?!" Her voice cracked. "You kept their whispers from me. You said nothing. Nothing!"
Her fists pounded weakly at his chest.
"You're the selfish one. You're the one who hides everything and calls it love."
