Chapter 60

NATHANIEL. It was the hardest thing he’d ever had to do. The sound of her name coming out of his mouth almost sent her rolling across the room. He saw the way she recoiled from him as though he'd struck her, noticed the way her gaze took on a defensive edge, the manner with which she took several steps back. Her chest was heaving with heavy breaths and her head narrowed at an odd angle that made him want to cross over the distance and set it to rights. Thane did not look away from Aurora, as any person would; she was in shock and he recognized that. But he was not going to stop speaking. This was a secret he’d kept to himself for too long and he was tired of the weight. “How do you know my first name?” Her voice was small, shocked. “I’ve never told you that.” Thane stared at her, hating that there was no better way to do this. He did not like the way she was looking at him as if he was an enemy. “I wouldn’t know,” he murmured. “But Thane would.” “Oh, God,” Aurora whimpered, her e