Magnus cut me off before I could go further, standing on the stairs in front of me to make us eye level. “Tell me you don’t want me.” He took hold of my waist and I grabbed his wrists without purpose, my heart suddenly unable to make him let go. “Say you’re only here for a patronage, that you don’t care for me at all, and I’ll leave you to your work.” He cradled my face and I closed my eyes to press back tears. “Because if you dare leave me a shred of hope, I will fight to have you with the last drop of blood in my body.”
