Ryder

"You're right." I step closer carefully. "I was trying to control the situation. Control what you knew, when you knew it, how much you had to deal with. And that's not fair to you."

"No." Her voice cracks. "It's not."

"I'm sorry." The words feel inadequate. "I fucked up. I kept things from you because I thought I was protecting you, but really I was just being a coward."

"A coward?" She frowns.

"I was afraid." The admission costs me. "Afraid that if you knew about Seraphina, you'd see a ...