He couldn't look at her for this. Turned away, staring at his notes on Seria, the clinical analysis of how to corrupt another person.
"The corruption is accelerating. Each time I use the abilities, each time I go too long without anchor contact, it gets worse. And one anchor – one person – can't hold back that much darkness." His hands clenched on the desk. "I need a second anchor."
Silence. Then: "Another woman."
"Yes."
"Someone else you'd need to – " She couldn't finish the sentence.
"Corr– Build the same kind of connection we have." He still couldn't look at her. "I hate this. I hate that I have to ask this. But the alternative is losing myself completely, and eventually – "
"Eventually you'd hurt me." Her voice was small. "Because you wouldn't care anymore about hurting anyone."
"Yes."
More silence. He could hear her breathing, unsteady, trying to process.
"Do you – " She stopped, started again. "Do you know who?"
