Page 34 of Nyte

“I...I don’t know,” Cypress admitted, gently running the ointment over Haven’s jaw and down to his exposed clavicle. “I just...want to.”

“I could have killed you.”

“You wouldn’t have.” He sounded so sure.

“You don’t know that.”

Their eyes connected briefly as Cypress stopped his ministrations. “I think I do.”

The massage continued. Haven closed his eyes as Cypress rubbed the liquid into his cheeks and over his nose. Thorne would be furious with him if he scarred his face. Luckily, judging by the receding pain, the wounds wouldn’t be permanent.

“There.” Cypress stepped back and grinned at him. “Good as new.”

“Thank you.” Haven’s voice caught. Despite himself, he found he missed the warmth of Cypress’s nearness.

“Thank you for the walk. The fresh air was more than welcome.”

Uncomfortable, Haven shrugged. “Glad to hear it.”

“I’m sorry.”

Again, Haven found himself flabbergasted at this human’s sincerity and candor. “What?”

The human stiffened. “I apologize for upsetting you. What happened to you…I’m sorry for bringing it up. I’m sorry it happened at all.”

“I don’t need your pity, slayer.”

“Is pity really such a bad thing? Pity, guilt, empathy…isn’t that what makes us human?”

Haven scoffed. “I wouldn’t know.”

“I don’t believe that. You still feel those things; I know you do. You forget I saw you with Riley. And I know you feel guilt at having to feed from humans.”

“You don’t know anything.”

“I know my face makes you feel emotions you don’t want to feel. I wish you would tell me why.”

Haven huffed in frustration. “Just leave it alone.”

“Did you love him? The person who looked like me?”

Haven blinked, his heart clenching.

“Is that why you won’t kill me? Why you won’t allow me to be hurt? I remind you of a person you lost. You see him when you look at me.”

“Stop it,” Haven growled. He’d done what he swore he wouldn’t. He’d allowed this human to get too close.

As much as he looked like him, Cypress was not Tobin.

“Tell me I’m wrong,” Cypress persisted. “Tell me there isn’t a part of you now that’s still human. A part of you that wants to protect me because I look like a human from your past.”

“Enough.” He held Cypress’s chain firmly in his hand, tugging him to the door and wrenching it open.

“Haven—” Cypress tried, but Haven forcefully thrust him into the hallway.

“LordHaven!” he growled.

As he’d expected, Sirene stood outside the door. She’d disobeyed. Of course she had. Thank goodness for that. If she hadn’t, Haven might have been stuck with this human for longer than he could stand.

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