You grabbed your coat. You were done, done fighting, done feeling like Kaz was shutting you out. But as you reached the door, his voice stopped you.

“Don’t go.”

You froze.

Kaz Brekker rarely begged. But this… this sounded like the closest he’d ever come to it.

You turned slowly. He was standing there, cane supporting him, shoulders rigid like holding himself upright took everything he had. “I don’t know how to do this,” he admitted. “I don’t know how to keep people.”

You swallowed hard. “Kaz-”

“I’m trying,” he said, voice cracking like a split bone. “For you.” He took one step toward you. One painful, deliberate step. “I can’t lose you,” he whispered. “Not for my mistakes.”

His eyes glistened. No tears fell, but the shine alone broke you.

You crossed the room in three strides and put your hand near his—never touching, but close enough he felt the warmth. “I’m not leaving,” you said softly. “Not unless you push me away.”

Kaz let out a shaky breath, the tension draining from his shoulders like a dam releasing. “I won’t,” he promised. For once, sounding like he meant it.