Chapter 157

The warmth of Dante’s embrace still lingered on my skin, a fragile shield against the memory of the lake.

For a while, I let myself drown in him, in the safety of his presence. But day had come, and the muffled sounds of life stirring in the city outside reminded me we could not stay here forever. Morning light stripped me bare of excuses.

I had to tell him.

My fingers tightened on the edge of the