“Violence,' he says softly, 'did Aetos touch you after I told you about Athebyne?'

'What?' My brow furrows, and I shove an errant strand of hair out of my face as the wind swirls around us.

'Like this.' He lifts his hands to my cheek. 'His power requires touching someone's face. Did he touch you like this?'

My lips part. 'Yes, but that's how he always touches me. He would n-never...' I sputter. 'I would know if he read my memories.'

Xaden's face falls, and his hand slips downward, cradling the back of my neck. 'No, Violence. Trust me, you wouldn't.' There's no accusation in his tone, just a resignation that hurts what's left of my heart.

'He wouldn't.' I shake my head. Dain is a lot of things, but he would never violate me like that, never take something I hadn't offered. Except he tried once.”