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There it is again.

That tiny sliver beneath the monster.

Something I almost recognize.

Something almost sad.

Then he ruins it.

“She screamed your name, you know,” Noir says softly.

Dagger goes still.

My blood turns to ice.

Noir lifts his eyes to mine.

“Brynn. At the end.”

The world drops.

No.

No no no.

“She thought you’d come for her,” he says to Dagger. “Both of you did.”

Dagger’s face empties.

Then the rage comes back so fast it frightens me.

He grabs Noir with both hands and shoves him backward.

Noir’s spine hits the railing.

Hard.

Metal groans.

“Dagger,” I whisper.

I don’t know if I’m begging him to stop.

I don’t know if I want him to.

Noir looks at him.

Really looks at him.

For the first time all night, he doesn’t smile.

Dagger’s voice is almost calm when he speaks.

“You should’ve died with Dante.”

Then he throws him.

Noir goes over the railing.