Caden was the first to turn around, his eyes instantly darkening with fury. In a second, he was on his feet, striding toward me with a volatile energy that practically radiated offhim. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” he thundered as he closed the distance between us.
“I—I need to talk to you,” I stammered, feeling a bit small under his intense gaze and towering presence.
“Ever heard of a fucking Nexus?” he hissed, grabbing my arm, clearly ready to portal me back to his room whether I liked it or not.
“Please, Caden, I need…” I sucked in a slow breath, trying to steady my racing heart. “I need the fresh air. And I need to talk to you. Can we please just sit down?” I pleaded, hoping my words would reach past his storming temper.
Sean, sensing my mood, quickly rose to his feet and dusted his hands off on his pants. With a soft smile, he walked over to me, kissed me on the cheek, and whispered, “He’s all yours.” Then, with a knowing look, he portaled back inside, leaving me alone with Caden.
Though his rage hadn’t lessened, I gently took Caden’s hand and led him back to their favorite spot, hoping the familiarity would help calm him down. Once we were seated, I translated us both a glass of Scotch, offering it to him as a peace gesture.
Caden grunted, not exactly thanking me, but acknowledging the gesture, nonetheless. He took a sip, his gaze still burning with frustration. “You better have a damn good reason to be out of bed,” he growled, though his tone had softened ever so slightly.
Then, without another word, he translated a blanket and draped it over my shoulders, his actions betraying the concern behind all that fire. He pulled me closer, wrapping his strong arms around me and warming my entire body with his heat. Despite his anger, there was comfort in his embrace—a reassurance that, no matter how angry he was, I would always be safe.
“Thank you,” I murmured, nestling a little deeper into him.
“Bet you never thought you’d be holding me like this back when you were maiming my arm,” I teased, but the playful edge didn’t seem to reach Caden.
Instead, he grew even more still. “Emma… I know I’m late with this, but can we have a serious conversation about Coastal?”
I pulled back to look him in the eyes, searching for the truth behind this sudden shift in demeanor. “We can and we have,” I said quietly. “You’ve told me where you came from, and I told you where you went wrong. I think it’s more than time we move on.”
Caden shook his head. “But there’s something you don’t know.”
My stomach tightened. James’s arrival reminded me of how weary I’d become of secrets.
“What is it?” I asked, trying to keep my calm.
Caden took a deep breath, his hand still resting on my arm as if anchoring himself to the moment. “You don’t know how sorry I am. About all of it. You were right. We never even considered an alternative approach, never thought to simply ask for your help. I was dead wrong. I am very sorry for what I did to you, and I hope, somewhere down the line, you’ll find it in that beautiful heart of yours to forgive me. But if you don’t, I will understand.”
His words hit me like a tidal wave, and I felt my breath catch in my throat. It was the first genuine apology I’d gotten since those revelations came to light in Switzerland, and the sincerity of it was undeniable. As I stared back into his eyes, seeing the raw emotion there—the regret, the pain, the longing for redemption—the walls I had built up around my heart began to crumble.
I swallowed hard, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill over. “Thank you, Caden. That means more than you know.”
Sitting up, I kissed him on the cheek, then slouched again, leaning into his chest, partly due to his warmth, partly because of his words. Caden wrapped his arms around me more tightly, and I felt his thumb gently tracing circles on my arm—the one he had scarred.
“I’m so sorry,” he repeated, his voice thick with emotion.
“I know,” I murmured, then I squeezed him a little, making him chuckle softly.
“You’re nothing like I expected when I first came here,” I sighed, the confession slipping out with surprising ease. It felt good to say it, to acknowledge the journey we’d been on together.
His hand moved to my hair, his fingers threading through the strands with a gentleness that made my chest tighten. “What did you expect?” he asked, his voice laced with curiosity.
I smirked, feeling the warmth blooming inside me. “A cold, self-absorbed jerk, more interested in power and manipulation than anything else. Someone who never finishes his vegetables.”
Caden laughed, the sound warm and genuine. “That last part was oddly specific.”
“And the only thing that held true,” I replied, hoping to convey a playful tone.
But then his expression shifted, his laughter fading. His gaze turned serious again, his jaw tightening. “Outside of these borders, I’ve got to go be the person people believe I already am.”
My brow furrowed as I watched him. “Why pretend to be someone you’re not?”
His eyes locked on mine, steady. “To protect the people I care about.”
A bitter laugh escaped me, almost unintentional. “I thought magi were supposed to be a peaceful people.”
