It was two more days before Bree was allowed to see Rafe. In those days, she did the only thing she knew how to do. She trained. Every morning, she requested to skip her walk with Taveon. He always agreed without hesitation. Instead, he led her into the Academy’s globed room and left her to work on her beastly shifting and her sparring with the dummies that had been set up throughout the massive space.

Taveon didn’t argue when she made these requests, but she could tell he didn’t like it. His jaw always rippled. His shoulders went tense. And that horrible hatred of his never wavered, not even once.

He might not be the total asshole she’d once thought he was, but his disdain toward her was unending. That much was real, even if none of the rest of it was.

She took out her fury toward him on one of the dummies. Punch after punch after punch. And some kicks thrown in for good measure. She made such a flurried attack on the dummy that she was left panting and sweating like she’d just run an entire marathon.

That was how Rafferty found Bree.

“Well,” he said with a smile as he strode up behind her. “You have certainly kept yourself busy. Maybe you do not need my assistance after all.”

“Rafe.” She whirled and launched her arms around him, remembering the very next moment that she was a mess. And probably a smelly one at that. She needed a shower before she went throwing her arms around gorgeous fae.

Blushing, she pulled back. He didn’t look as though he minded though. Instead, he gave her a broad smile. “You look good. Strong. Powerful.”

“You don’t look so bad yourself,” she said and then cleared her throat. “I mean, you don’t look like you just survived a deadly attack against you or anything.”

In fact, he looked healthier than ever. His skin glowed and those silver eyes sparkled with life. Power radiated off his muscular body in waves, so much so that Bree felt as though she could get lost just staring at him.

“Did you have to do a lot of shifting? How did Prince Taveon get you back to the castle? How were you able to shift that first time? Did you get a good look at who attacked us?”

“Whoa there.” He held up his hands and laughed. “Yes, I did a lot of shifting. The Prince flew me back and got me some...healing ointment. It was enough to bring me back from the brink of death. At that point, I was able to shift myself. And no, I did not see who attacked us. I wish I had.”

“I was terrified for you, Rafe,” Bree said, unable to hold her tears back any more. “I thought you were going to die.”

“And yet you saved me,” he said with a soft smile. “Taveon told me what you did. You found him, even when you could have used that chance to escape. Do not think I do not understand the full gravity of what you have done. I know how much you wish not to be here. For you to stay—for me—well...”

“I wasn’t going to leave to let you die.” Bree’s heart thumped in her chest.

“Do you not understand what you have done?” Rafe said with a sad smile. “Your wish. The volcano granted you what you wanted. A chance to go. A chance to escape. That was your one shot to get out of here, and you squandered it, just to save me.”

Bree shook her head, and a tear leaked out of her eye. “If that was the only way I could leave Underworld, then I’d rather stay forever. Your life isn’t more important than my freedom.”

Bree almost couldn’t believe the words that were coming out of her mouth. Weeks ago, she would have never thought it possible she would feel this way about one of the Dark Fae. She’d hated them all with a fiery kind of passion that felt impossible to douse. She would have fought every single one of them to escape, including the Prince and all of his supporters.

But now...things had changed so very much.

It hurt her heart to think she wouldn’t have another chance to leave this place, but another part of her felt strangely relieved. She wouldn’t have to make that decision to go. She wouldn’t have to see Rafe’s face when she walked into that Faerie Ring, disappearing from his world for good.

“You know I will do everything in my power to protect you, Bree,” he said, his voice catching. “The Prince is still insistent that you will fight for him. I want to find a way to get you out of it, but I see the strength in you now. I believe you can win. I will train you every hour of every day if that is what it takes.”

Bree wanted to push up on her toes, wrap her arms around his neck, and kiss him with everything inside of her. She had almost lost him. She had given up a chance to escape just to see those silver eyes full of life once again. But the truth was, nothing had changed. Not truly. She still wanted out of Underworld, and she had to hope another chance might come her way. Even if Rafe was here and not there.

Bree did not want to be Taveon’s slave, his champion, or his assassin against the humans for the Tithe. And nothing would change that.

Perhaps she had ruined any opportunity the volcano had given her, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t get another chance sometime soon.

Bree wanted to leave, which meant she couldn’t do the one thing her body wanted her to do: open herself up to Rafe and give herself wholeheartedly to him.

Because not all of her heart was in this realm, even if part of it was now standing right in front of her.