Misery knitted his brow. "What good is the truth? Really? What good does it do us?"
But she didn't agree. She needed to know if he'd meant what he said. "Do you love me?"
He looked away and she had her answer.
Releasing him, Danger sat there with a knot in her throat as emotions swirled through her. She'd never thought to have another man say that to her. Never.
But what surprised her most was what she felt for him in return. It was warm and overwhelming and it filled her with both joy and fear.
She pulled him against her and laid her head on his shoulder. "I love you, too, Alexion."
She felt his jaw tic against her scalp.
"This is an impossible relationship. You know that, right?"
"I know," she breathed. "And when the time comes, I will kiss you on the cheek and bid you good-bye. I won't beg you to stay and I won't make this hard on you. I promise."
Alexion ground his teeth at her words. But that wasn't what he wanted.
He wanted...
Damn you, Acheron.
Most of all, he damned himself. Had he not been so stupid as to go to his wife so soon after making a pact with Artemis, he would still have a chance to be human again.
Acheron would be able to barter for his soul back...
Then again, had he not wanted to return to his wife so desperately, Acheron wouldn't have made the pact with Artemis that allowed Dark-Hunters to go free.
None of them would have a chance for freedom from her service. His life and soul had been sacrificed for a much greater good.
One day, Danger might be free again.
Without me...
It was true. For him there was no way out. No future that included Danger or any woman. Not that he wanted any other woman. She was the only one he would ever love. He knew it.
"I shouldn't have come here to save Kyros," he said in a hoarse tone. "Kyros is as good as dead and all I've done is make memories that can only serve to hurt in the centuries to come." But at least she wouldn't know regret. She wouldn't feel his pain.
He clenched his hand in her hair. "I'll be able to see you, I could even pass you on the street and you'll never know who or what I am. I'll be a stranger."
Tears swam in her dark eyes. "I don't want to forget you, Alexion. Ever."
"You have no choice. You know too much about Acheron now. He'll never allow you to keep your memories intact."
Anger snapped beneath her tears. "I don't care what he does. I won't forget you. Somehow I'm going to remember you, I know it. I don't care how powerful he is, he won't make me forget you."
He wished he could believe that, but he knew better.
"You need to get some sleep, Danger. We have a long night ahead of us."
She nodded. "Are you going to sleep too?"
"In a little while. You rest."
She released him to lie back on the bed. Alexion got up and dressed while thoughts and regrets whispered through him.
Pushing them aside, he went to see Xirena, who was still asleep on the sofa.