"I know." Her voice was hoarse from screaming.
"And you can't stop it."
"I know that too." Novalee stared up at him, their faces inches apart. "But I can make sure Dante knows I didn't choose this. That he had to force me. That he never broke me, just... held me down."
She looked pointedly at their current position.
"I'm sorry," Atlas said quietly. "For pinning you. For—"
"Don't." Novalee's voice was tired. "You told me about your sister. That's more than you had to do. More than Dante would want you to do."
"It doesn't change anything."
"No. But it helps me understand." She took a shaky breath, her chest rising and falling under his weight. "He doesn't just take. He binds. Creates debts that can never be repaid."
"Yes."
"And he's done the same to me. Made everyone I love into cha
