My fury is becoming something cold and hard now, diamond bright within my chest. They bargained with his love for me. For me.

"I hope you don't have too many plans for them. I want to - own myself."

"Could you end them?" I say to him. "Once, perhaps..." I feel his heart beating beneath my hand. "Now you are weak," I say simply. "Come with me, and I will cut away what binds you to them."