Declan stepped inside the room and sighed. His arms hung loosely at his sides and he studied the sleek tiled floor rather than look at her. He gestured to a space against the wall.

"Mind if I sit?" To Camila's surprise, he didn't move until she nodded. When he sat, he collapsed onto the floor like he hadn't rested in days.

"So. What are you thinking?" Camila asked. Regret lurked at the pit of her stomach—she had barely processed what she'd done, her desperate proposal to save Alex's life—and she hated how little she knew about her own future.

"I'm not going to kill Alex."

A sigh of relief rushed out of her. Knots of tension in her neck and back relaxed and her shoulders slumped down. Camila closed her eyes and—for the first time since she was a child— thanked the Moon Goddess.

"I don't know what to say," she whispered. "Thank you."

"I said I was going to do better." Declan shrugged. It was almost like he'd never seriously considered killing Alex. Camila wanted to forget the way her body had trembled, like a leaf in the wind, during their last conversation.

She knew she never would.

"And, Camila," She looked up. Declan had leaned forward, catching her eyes with his. "I'm not going to marry you because you feel like you're out of options."

Irrational tears burned at the backs of her eyes and it was only then that Camila realized how worried she'd been that he'd say yes. If she couldn't keep him in check when it was just the two of them, how had she ever imagined she could keep the kingdom safe if she gave him a seat of power?

It wasn't that she thought Declan was evil. But she thought he was wrong, and he was willing to do anything to implement his vision. On some level, she respected him. He thought he was doing the right thing.

Slowly, almost tentatively, Camila rose from her chair. It took her two smooth steps to reach Declan's side and sit down beside him. "Thank you," she repeated, catching his eye. "This means a lot."

He ducked his head, fixing his gaze on the opposite wall. "Yeah, well- You're welcome."

"So what happens to us now?" she asked.

Something in his expression softened when he looked at her. His eyes burned with a kind of tenderness, mingled with something sad. "I don't want to be enemies anymore."

She pictured it: a world where she it didn't feel wrong to smile at him, to laugh at his jokes, to trust that he had her back. Honestly, she couldn't imagine what it would be like to trust Declan. They'd spent so long keeping secrets, using the bond for their own gain, and stabbing each other in the back for their own vision of the kingdom.

"I don't either." she said softly.

There was a knock at the door. Zora slipped in, flashed Camila a quick, tight-lipped smile, and passed a cardboard pizza box to Declan. The door shut softly behind her.

"Please tell me that's not all for you," Camila said. A thin trail of smoke rose from the slim opening and with her new werewolf senses, she could almost taste the rich, buttery crust, the smooth tomato sauce, and the velvety cheese.

It took a second, but Declan choked out a laugh. And even though the sound was halfhearted and heartbroken, it was good to hear. Maybe, Camila thought, after all this was over, they could end up friends.

He set the box on the floor and raised the lid. "Cheese okay?" he asked.

"Cheese is great. Thank you." She helped herself to a slice.

"I want to help you, but I need you to promise me a few things first."

Camila set her pizza slice down, instantly on guard. "What kind of things?"

Declan ran a hand through his hair and frowned at the bleached white floor. A small beetle, barely larger than a thumbtack, lumbered around the metal heel of the chair. He watched it as it crawled slowly towards the window. "We need to talk about the shifting ban."

Her heart plummeted.

Camila fought to keep her voice steady. Could she even agree to this without her parents? Locked in a claustrophobic cell, did she even have a choice? She drummed her fingers against the floor, trying to think. "And this is for men and money, correct?"

"Yes. The Vindicators will help you get the vampires out of your kingdom and provide funds to get the economy going and whatever else you need."

"I suppose you want the ban removed?" She kept her voice neutral and took a bite of her pizza, trying to calm her nerves. The shifting ban was her parent's biggest success. It had eliminated most werewolf-human violence and led to a kinder nation overall.

"Yeah, I do. It's unnatural and it's holding us back." He clenched his jaw. "It's ridiculous to send soldiers north and not let them use their full abilities. The vampires are killing us and it's our own fault."

Camila set her pizza slice down, careful despite her indignation. Her parents had fought tooth and nail to get the ban in place. It was good for the nation as a whole. True, maybe they weren't as strong. But they were kinder. More human. If Declan was an example of a werewolf who embraced their animal nature, she was sure a kingdom full of them would be a blood-soaked disaster.

"Yeah, and giving a five-year-old the ability to turn into a werewolf is a lot like giving them a gun they don't know how to use. Or what about someone like you, who's willing to kill to get what they want?"

Declan set the pizza down. "That's not fair."

"Remember the maid you killed on your grand escape from the palace? Those guards? The vampires who attacked us? If we have less abilities, less people die. The shifting law stays."

"The end justifies the means."

"No! It doesn't! There's a line, Declan, there are some things you-"

"Do you want my help or not?" He jumped to his feet, his green eyes glaring down at her. "Because I'm not going to sit here nicely while you yell at me."

The room fell silent. The only sound was Declan's breathing, rushed and angry.

Camila ducked her head. There was no alternative, she reminded herself. She had to work with him or let the Vindicators decide her fate.

"Okay," she said softly. Camila rose to her feet. Every movement was calm, steady, meant to make her seem less of a threat. "How about I go without silver for the next month? I'll see what it feels like. Alex will stay with me, to stop me if I give in to my instincts. If, by the end of the month, I change my mind, we can reevaluate."

She had no intention of changing her mind. But without the Vindicators on her side, Camila didn't stand a chance against Dragomir. Besides, she had a sneaking suspicion that Declan knew more about the Heart of Catalina than she or Alex.

His green eyes seemed to see right through her. Camila raised her chin. She held out her hand. "Deal?"

His hand enveloped hers. A jolt of electricity surged up her arm, bringing a flush to her cheeks.

"Deal."

Question: do you believe in pineapple on pizza?

Thanks for reading!

-Harley