Turning off loving him was impossible. It was something that she’d thought she would be able to do in time. She had thought not seeing him would help. And if she was being honest with herself, it had. It hadn't made her stop loving him, of course. But it had made it easier for her not to think about it. It had made it easier for her to convince herself that she was doing the right thing. She wanted to think that she had been. He showed no remorse for what he had done, and someone had to protect the rest of them. When the house of cards came crashing down, if he got arrested, she could not in any way go down with him. She had told herself that it was the right thing to do.

If he hadn’t shown up tonight, she would continued to keep this distance between them. She was sure of that. It was easier that way. But he had come here tonight and seeing him had made it all more complicated. It was harder to stay away from him when he was standing right there. It was hard to convince herself that she had made the right decisions when she could see how much it had hurt him. She did not know if she could forgive him. She did not know if he could forgive her.

But she knew that she wanted him. Knew that she needed him tonight. Even just once before everything got complicated again when the sun came up. And it would. She knew that. But those worries would still be there in the morning. Merlin knew that they weren't going anywhere. The distance was closed between them and she kissed him back.

A hint of blood still on his lips from the bite made the stark contrast of this kiss even more apparent and she slid her arms around his neck as he picked her up. ”I love you too.” There was no chance she’d ever stop loving him. That was the problem.