I sat there while Makeh's words hung in the air like smoke that refused to dissipate, curling into my lungs whether I allowed it or not.
You are feeding it.
I bared my teeth and felt heat rise behind my eyes. If working with vampires would burn the world, then so be it.
If bargaining with monsters made me one too, then I would wear the title gladly. People had died for less noble reasons than mine. Kingdoms had fallen for greed and pride and jealous wars—but suddenly it was my work that would end the world?
Then let it tremble.
Inside my skull, El sighed like someone witnessing a slow-motion disaster.
You're being dramatic, she drawled. Mass extinction is not a personality trait.
Shut up, I snapped back in my head. You're not the one being told you're the reason the sun might someday die.
Darius cleared his throat.
I ignored him.
