Page 80 of Shadowkissed

My legs are shaking. My hands are stained red and gold and something darker. But I stand because now Iunderstand.

He wasn’t trying to force the union. He was trying toigniteme. Because that’s the real weapon.

Me.

Uncontrolled. Unhinged.Unleashed.

39

DANTE

The second I see her silhouette stumble through the outer barrier, I know something’s wrong.

Not just hurt. Not just scared.Shattered.

She’s covered in soot and ash and streaks of blood—I can tell some is hers but not all of it. Her eyes are vacant. Her skin flickers with faint light, like there’s a star trapped inside her trying to claw its way out.

“Liora—” I’m already running, heart in my goddamn throat.

She makes it three more steps before her knees buckle.

I catch her mid-collapse, arms locking around her waist as we hit the dirt.

“Hey. Hey—look at me. What happened?” My voice shakes. I don’t care.

She doesn’t look at me. Just whispers, hoarse and cracked, “He’s gone.”

I already know who she means.

My stomach twists.

“Thorne?”

She nods once, and then her whole body folds into mine.

“He killed him,” she chokes out. “Seraphiel. Left his body there like—like itmeant nothing.”

I hold her tighter. One hand cradles the back of her head, the other around her waist as she curls into me like I’m the only thing keeping her from turning to dust.

She smells like smoke and lightning. She feels like war. She cries until her voice breaks.

I don’t say anything. I just hold her and let her unravel.

She’s always been the storm. But tonight, she’s the wreckage.

When she finally lifts her head, her eyes are rimmed red, glowing faint beneath the tears.

“I couldn’t stop it,” she rasps. “I lost control. I—I tore part of the Veil. Ifeltit rip. Like it screamed.”

“Then we’ll stitch it back together,” I say, brushing a thumb down her cheek.

“You didn’t see what I did, Dante. I—” Her voice hitches. “I could feel him smilingwhileI lost it. Like hewantedit. Like I gave him exactly what he needed.”

I nod, jaw clenched. “Because you did. And we both know he’s not done.”

She grabs the front of my shirt, eyes wild. “You have togo.You need to get out while you still can.”

“No.”

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