"We can't keep doing this," Zarek said.
Eliora frowned. "Doing what?"
"This," he replied. "These unnecessary arguments. Back and forth. Anger that goes nowhere."
That word hit her wrong.
"Unnecessary?" she snapped. "You think this is unnecessary? You did this. You're the one who kept women. Three of them."
He dragged a hand through his hair, frustration written all over his face.
"I already told you," he said. "They were not chosen by me."
She scoffed. "And Delilah?"
He went still for a second but it was enough because Eliora saw it.
"So it's different with her," she said softly, hurt creeping into her voice before she could stop it.
She didn't wait for an answer and turned toward the door. But he stopped her and wrapped his arms around her from behind.
Eliora gasped, her back hitting his chest.
"Don't," she said. "Let me go."
He rested his forehead against her hair.
"You're wrong, and I hate that you think this way."
