Alexander wraps his arms around my waist, buries his face in my hair, breathing me in as if I’m the only thing tethering him to earth. "I hate that you had to go through so much," he whispers. "And you’re still going through it. I want to give you the most carefree life possible, but… it doesn’t feel like you’re getting that with me."

"Alexander," I murmur, cupping his face and forcing him to meet my eyes. His gaze is so achingly blue, just like Theodore’s. "This is the ...