"Nothing," Rat said, voice choked and harsh. He kicked the ball away and leaned against a nearby wall, back hunched and shoulders pressed in tight like he could keep Marius out by that alone.

Grey had been his world but now the reality of this place confronted him. He could come back and never know Rat, could fall into someone else's arms and leave Rat behind with his wounds.

Love was pain and folly. He should have never allowed it into his heart once, much less a second or potentially third time.