But you say you love him. And if he is dead, you will never have him. And I’ll tell you a hard truth, Reshaye—if you kill him, if you hurt him, you will never have me, either. {And why would I want you?} Because you wish to be loved, and I have loved many monsters. Max’s fingers tightened. One terrible second of silence, a wave of fury cresting, cresting . . . {Then you could love one more.}
