When Elijah got up out of bed, I heard him from across the room. I jumped up as well. Today was the day, Today, they were storming the castle.

Today would be when Damien fell.

At breakfast, everyone was anxious. Everyone, it seemed, was ready for this to be over. When we left, I saw that the weapons had been spread out on tables that we set up the day before. Guns. Knives. Other gadgets that looked incredibly cool but very dangerous.

Everyone was involved. I stayed by Elijah as he met with a few incoming packs. They would all travel together in busses or cars. They would drive part of the way and then approach on foot.

Everyone began arming themselves as they headed down toward the vehicles. It was time to begin. My heart pumped with anxious energy. Elijah waited at the end of the line.

"I can't promise I'll be back," Elijah said. "But I will do everything in my power to make sure I do."

"Don't worry. I'm coming with you."

"Naomi, we already agreed. You are not coming with us," he said firmly.

"Why? You need me," I challenged. We had talked, but not about this specifically. "Elijah, I know what I said, but as much as I hate to admit it, this fight is mine, too." Was I not worth bringing along? I wasn't the strongest fighter, but I could hold my own. The werewolves in the area quickly made their exit. Elijah sighed.

"No, Naomi. You're not going. I can't risk that." He turned and grabbed a pistol from the table.

"You need me to defeat Damien. He has the power of a light elemental. You need another elemental to fight him. I am stronger than I was when I was with him last." I pulled out earplugs and sound-proof headphones I had gotten. "And he has no Claim if I can't hear him. I am being perfectly rational right now. You need every hand you can get," I argued. I grabbed one of the pistol holsters.

In actuality, I was lying through my teeth. Anger and fear had tied knots in my stomach. I wasn't being perfectly rational; I wanted revenge. For Elijah's dad. For Thomas. For Daniel. For Daria. For Berry. For Eric. For Elijah. For me.

"So help me," he said, whirling on me and snatching the holster out of my hand before I could react. He slammed it back down on the table. I jumped. "I will tie you to your bed in the dark realm and leave with the keys if you do not go back to the house now." His eyes turned bright gold, and he took a step closer to me. His presence was stiflingly dominant. I could feel heat radiating off him. He wasn't playing.

Why in the world would she think I'd let her go? There's no way I'd risk—

This was my fight, too. He needed me. I wasn't going to let that piece of trash get away with this.

"Just say it, then," I goaded.

"Say what?" he asked sarcastically.

"That you're a liar. For saying that I could hold my own. Tell the truth. Damien knew it was true. Say that that I'm a pathetical wretch who should be cleaning in the kitchen because that's all I'm good for!" As angry as I was, I was on the verge of tears.

I was exhausted. But I wasn't too exhausted for revenge.

Silence.

"You want to know why I won't let you come?" he asked, deadly calm. He turned to face me, sliding the pistol back onto the wall. The sudden change in tone made me pause.

"Yes."

He pulled me close into his chest by my upper arms. His touch was firm, but still gentle. I began to breathe heavily as the royal insignia on my chest warmed in this proximity. "I won't let you come because...I need you. I made a promise to protect you. I care about you, and I can't let you get hurt. I am not letting you within a mile of Damien after what he did to you. I care about you."

"What do you mean, you care about me?" I argued again. I stepped back, shrugging myself out of his arms. Just friends. Friends because of a common cause. "Damien said he cared about me, and it was only because he cared about my magic. Why would you care? I'm not offering anything to you. I'm not—"

"Worth it?" he interjected.

"Don't twist my words," I said sharply. "You can't care about me if I'm not...useful to your cause. Let me prove that I can—"

"Stop," he said sharply, cutting me off and raising his voice in response. "Stop trying to prove that you're worth something. Useful. Worthy. To me, to yourself. Stop." His voice was harsh. "You've almost gotten yourself killed multiple times because you are trying to prove that you're worthy of other people caring about you. Leviathan? The Eyeless? Damien? All of it! Stop trying to prove yourself," he said, poking my chest. "You're worth protecting. That's it. End of story."

I sputtered. "But why?" I managed, desperate for a true answer. "I don't get it. Since I was fourteen, no one wanted me. I was trash, a wretch. I got abused, and no one cared," I said, the anger in my voice rising. "Then, I got wings and people wanted to be around me! Nothing changed except my wings, my power. You liked me because we had a mate bond. Then Damien stole the mate bond, and he kept me around because he wanted my power! Say what you want; the truth is—people only love you if you can prove that you're worth it—"

Suddenly, his hand was behind my neck and his lips on mine.

He kissed me deeply, like a shipwrecked man drinking water for the first time in days. My brain lit on fire—but it was a low-burning fire on a cold winter day. His lips were rough but softened.

"They were wrong," he said, pulling back. I breathed deeply, confused by this tactic. My brain was swimming pleasantly. Clearly that wasn't appropriate for the mentor-mentee relationship, right?

Was sleeping in the same bed?

I opened my mouth only to have him kiss my objection away again. "Elijah," I objected once he pulled away. He kissed me again. My head felt fuzzy, but I didn't particularly want him to stop. "Unfair," I objected.

"Naomi, what happened to you was wrong. I don't care what you were. Human, omega, alpha, or beta. No one should have... burned you," he said passionately, grasping my forearms gently. "No one should have touched you. Your aunts shouldn't have shunned you. Your alpha shouldn't have let any of that happen, let alone be the instigator. Damien shouldn't have used you. What happened to you wasn't your fault," he said ardently, staring deeply into my eyes. He searched my eyes for answers. "Can't you see that?"

I blinked, realizing that tears were welling up into my eyes.

"But—" I began before his lips silenced my objections again.

"Berry was the only one who did anything to stop it," he said cautiously. "Did you care about Berry because she helped you?"

"Of course not," I said in a huff, frantically wiping my tears.

"You love Berry because of who she is, not what she does for you. Why do you think you're different? You loved her because she was your friend, not because she put salve on your burns. You don't have to prove yourself to anyone. Why is it any different with you?" he asked. "You're not guilty for other's people's sins. You don't have to save the world—that's not your job. You don't have to prove yourself to anyone. You are Naomi, a beautiful, compassionate, wise, and incredibly strong woman," he said, drinking in my eyes. "And a mediocre kisser."

I lifted my hand to my chest in mock offense. For some reason, words wouldn't make it past my throat.

"Yes, Naomi, I probably need you there, but I can't risk it. I can't risk you. More importantly, you don't have to prove yourself to me. Because I..." he hesitated, "because even if no one else sees you as valuable, that doesn't change the fact that you are."

Silence.

A thousand emotions filled me, battling for dominance. "Okay," I said.

Our eyes met.

"I'll stay."

He glanced down and then stared at me with a sudden, reckless abandon. He cupped my face in his hands. "No mate bond, no manipulation. Nothing." he said, eyes begging for me to understand. "Naomi, I'm not perfect. I have so much to learn, but I..."

I stood there, tears leaking out of my eyes.

"I love you," I realized.

He smiled. "You beat me to it. I love you, too, Nao."

This time, it was my turn.

I kissed him.