Nightmare scoffed. “Relationship. How much of a relationship is it now, without the curse?” Her mismatched eyes speared me, making my heart pulse. “Do you still care for Death, Cat?”

Say yes, or Virgil dies.

I jumped. Swallowed. Said, “Yes.”

Death released a breath I didn’t know he was holding, his hands dropping to my waist and squeezing tight. “We’re going to get out of here,” he promised me quietly.

I froze when Nightmare spoke again, a chill going through me. “And do you still care for Torment and Misery?”

I opened my mouth, not entirely sure what I’d reply. Miz had killed Byron. But her smoky voice slid through my mind before I could get a word out.

Say no, or I’ll carve Virgil into a hundred different pieces and leave a new one for you to find every day.

My breath caught.

“Cat?” Tor asked, turning with a frown. He wore his heart on his sleeve, hurt and pleading hope in his eyes, and I wanted to scream.

Tell him you feel nothing.

My mouth was dry as I met his eyes. “I feel nothing for you.”

And Misery.

“And Misery,” I breathed, choking back tears. My heart was already broken by Byron’s death, but now the shard crushed into dust. “I’m so sorry.”

“You only—” Tor staggered back, surprise bleeding into devastation. “You only wanted me because of the curse.”

I pictured Virgil’s face and nodded, tears dripping over my lips until I tasted salt. Death let go of me to step back, staring at me.

“I’m sorry,” I said again, my hands shaking, and I understood how Nightmare had kept Byron under her thumb. She didn’t even need a curse to control me when she had Virgil.

Nightmare’s voice slid like smoke through my mind, and I said the final damning words.

“I only wanted you and Misery because of the curse, but what Death and I have is real. Why would I want you when I have Death?”

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