Chapter Fourteen
Don’t Ever Worry
The pelting sound of rain striking against the house wakes me just as thunder rumbles, shaking all through Saint’s Inn.
My lashes flutter open to find Ryder’s pale eyes watching me. The four of us lie on the hard floor, piled together uncomfortably just to be near one another. Darrio lies between my legs, sprawled over me with his big arms wrapped around my small frame. He holds me like he wants to be a little closer to our baby.
Our baby.
The words hum through my mind, and as if he can sense my mixture happiness and anxiety, Daxdyn slips his arm across my shoulders, melding his body closer to my side.
I love the way he knows me inside and out. Daxdyn’s gift isn’t the strongest power I’ve ever seen, but it fits him so perfectly. I can’t imagine him any other way.
Lightning flashes through the room, lighting up every dark crevice. It strikes through Ryder’s serious eyes in a way that makes my stomach uneasy. He leans closer, his head resting on our shared pillow. Our noses nearly touch from our closeness.
A heavy pause fills the silence just before he presses his lips to mine. His lips silence whatever it is that’s drifting through his head. His tongue parts my mouth as he kisses me hard. He stops the kiss, but then his mouth is on mine again. Slow kisses press to my lips, tightening a feeling deep within me with every skimming flick of his tongue. There’s another slow pause as he pulls back slightly, as if he’s not sure if he should.
The back and forth has me panting and confused all at once.
Hesitantly, he rolls his tongue against mine. His lips seal to my own before he pulls back once more. His eyes hold mine as our breaths clash against each other.
“I love you.” It’s a rumbling and whispered confession that makes his eyes close. It makes him look like he wants to disappear from here. And yet, he holds me tighter as ifImight disappear from here.
His words make my breath catch in my throat, my eyes widening as I stare up at this beautiful man.
“I love you too.” Sincerity and emotion flood my words.
“I—I loved you before.” He clears his throat, meeting my gaze with a hooded look that sinks right through me. “I loved you before we had sex. I loved you before we ever stepped foot into the Hopeless realm. I loved you the moment we danced. I held you close in front of that whole fucking room of pretentious people in the castle I grew up in, knowing I couldn’t have you.” His words shake through his chest, feeling unsteady against my heart. “And now I do. I have you and I’mterrifiedof losing you.” He swallows at the sound of the emotion that’s building in his chest.
“What do you meanlose me, Ryder?”
A frightening feeling begins to eat away at the fluttering sensation his sweet words just gave me.
I know what he’s about to say before he says it. I’ve just carefully avoided the truth for so long I’m not even sure I want to know now.
“In the Traveler’s Guild, when the gods gave me a vision of the future,” my heart pounds hard, threatening to roar over the sound of his wavering voice, “Darrio saves you.” His brows crease as he says his friend’s name and, for a moment, confusion floods me.
“Are you worried he might not? That he might not get to me in time?”
His teeth sink into his lower lip as his eyes close slowly again.
“He dies saving you, Kara.”
Those words slam into me. My hands drop from his warm body and I swear my heart stops beating all together.
My heart refuses to beat if Darrio Riles isn’t there to hear it.
***
I want to sleep. I want to rest before tomorrow comes. Not just because of the war that’s looming, but because I have to protect him. I have to protect all of them.
But all I can think about is how sweet Darrio feels wrapped around me. How warm and comforting this man is in my arms.
My fingers push through his long hair. Darrio’s strong. Unyielding. Shit, he’s downright terrifying.
Could Tristan really take him away from me?
My throat is tight as I swallow hard against that thought.
