I duck into the building’s security rather than follow Isa to her father. I don't want to interfere. Not more than I already have. I look over at the guard who’s monitoring the footage from various camera locations throughout the building.

"Take a break," I order.

Nodding, he immediately gets up and leaves. I always make sure to hire professionals. Many of the security guards are military veterans. I appreciate their ability to stay calm and follow orders when necessary. As soon as I'm alone, I switch on the audio for the camera closest to Isa and her father, zooming in. I frown, noticing the signs that he was physically assaulted. Who would attack an old man? I tune in on their conversation.

"...He threatened the library. He said...he said if I didn't find you and bring you back, he'd make sure he and his father destroyed it. That the only thing that will stop him is if you agree to marry him."

A chill slides over me. Her father's safety. The library. Her father's home. Almost exactly the same situation that made her agree to be my servant for three years. My chest aches as I listen, already realizing that I’m going to have to make a choice. A choice that isn't really one at all. I cannot simply distance myself from this situation. I care for Isa. Care for her in a way I've never felt before. More than I've ever cared about a woman. I want her to be happy. To smile.

I touch the screen of the monitor, touch her face. She's frowning, her worry, anger and frustration clear. I don't want her to look like that. I don’t want to be the reason why she looks like that. But the thought of letting her go has my inner beast awakening. She's mine. I've claimed her. She gave herself to me. I can’t let her go. I turn away from the monitor, trying to turn away from the situation. But I cannot simply ignore it, cannot simply close my eyes to the problem. No matter how much I wish it didn't exist.

"Prince Adir?"

I glance towards the monitor and find Isa searching the lobby for me, her face tense and confused. No. I cannot simply close my eyes this time. I leave the security hub and step out into the lobby, feeling like I’m stepping up to the edge of a deep chasm. One I must cross.

"Here," I say hoarsely to catch her attention. I clear my throat and try again. "I'm here."

She turns at my voice and hurries over. Her hair is still a little messy from the bed, her lips slightly swollen, her cheeks flushed. She looks well loved. But she no longer looks relaxed or languorous, but tense and worried.

"Prince Adir," she says formally, stopping a polite distance away.

I hate the gap between us, the physical distance, the title, the tone. I'm already losing her even though she's standing right in front of me.

"Yes?" I acknowledge. Can my heart withstand this?

"I...I don't know what to do," she says in a rush. "Gideon is threatening Father, the library..." She looks down, shaking her head. "He says he's going to destroy it if I don't agree to marry him." She looks up, meeting my eyes with an entreaty I cannot ignore. "I know I agreed to three years, but...I don't know what to do."

Her hands fist in her skirt in frustration as her eyes search my face. Looking for an answer. I can almost physically feel the crack forming in my heart. If I could, I would wipe Gideon and his family off the map, ruin them until they had no power. Until they could never hurt Isa or anyone else ever again. It would be the least I could do for the damage they've already done to Isa's Father. But the words to tell her so won’t come.

"I think you should do what is best for you," I finally say, keeping my face and voice stoic even as my emotions threaten to overtake me.

Pick me. Don't leave me.

"I..." She looks over her shoulder at her father, biting her lip. When she looks back at me, there are tears in her eyes. "You will let me go?" she whispers, the hope in her voice another wound in my heart. "Our bargain would be fulfilled?"

"I will not stand in your way," I confirm, clasping my hands behind my back so I won't crush her against me, refuse to ever let her go no matter the consequences.

She nods, blinking in an attempt to keep tears from spilling from her eyes.

I fight the urge to take my words back. To tell her she cannot go. That she must stay with me. But I can't keep her against her will. She is what I want most. More than anything I've ever wanted or anything I will want. I love her.

The realization blooms in my chest. I love Isabelle Stone. My heart sinks in the next instant because I also realize it is not enough that I love her. She has to want me in return. She has to love me in return. I don’t want to cage her, to force her to stay with me. I want her. All of her. Who she is inside. Not just the shell of her and I know keeping her here means I will not have that.

She needs to be free to make her own choice. And if that choice is to leave me— So be it. I will not hold her here if she wants to leave.

"I..." She looks at me, still searching my face like she’s memorizing every detail. "Thank you," she finally whispers. "Thank you."

I stand frozen, as she returns to her father, taking his arm. My beast stirs. Telling me to go take her. Bring her back before she's out of reach. I grit my teeth and stay in place as she walks to the door leading outside. She turns to meet my eyes over her shoulder as she steps through the door. The moment lasts forever. And for only an instant. The door closes.

My heart cracks in two. She is gone.

My beast rises with a roar, slashing at me from the inside, howling with its rage and anguish. Stronger than I've ever felt it. I close my eyes and fight. Fight harder than I ever have.

But my heart is broken.

And I am not as strong as I need to be.