Alaric's grip loosened, then his arms wrapped fully around her, crushing her against his chest.
"You should have never been touched by him," he muttered into her hair. "Not then. Not ever."
She clutched his shirt. "Ric, please don't think..."
"I'm not angry at you," he said immediately. "I'm furious at fate. At whoever decided you should suffer twice. And at him."
He pulled back just enough to look at her. "You don't owe him answers. You don't owe him memories. You don't owe him closure."
"But I need it," she whispered. "For my sanity."
He closed his eyes. When he opened them, the fear was naked there.
His voice broke, "I can't lose you, Daphne."
She cupped his face. "I won't leave you. I promise."
He leaned into her touch like a man starved.
"You're mine," he said fiercely. "Not because I own you, but because you chose me. Because you choose me every day."
"And if he thinks a past crown gives him rights over you now… I will show him how wrong he is."
