“I’m here,” I said softly. “With you. And safe.”
He leaned in and kissed me.
His lips were warm against mine, gentle at first, barely brushing. Then he deepened the kiss, his mouth moving slowly, savoring the contact. One of his hands came up to cup the back of my head, fingers threading through my hair, holding me close. Hisother arm stayed wrapped around my waist, keeping our bodies pressed together.
My heart stuttered in my chest. Warmth bloomed behind my ribs and spread outward, filling me with a sense of peace I hadn’t felt all day. I melted into him, my fingers curling against his chest, feeling his heartbeat steady under my palm.
When he finally pulled back, I snuggled closer to him, tucking my head under his chin, tangling our legs together.
“Sleep,” I murmured.
“I don’t think I can. Every time I close my eyes, I see that empty house.”
“Then don’t close your eyes. Just hold me.”
His arms tightened around me. “I can do that.”
We lay there in the darkness, wrapped around each other, breathing in sync. His heartbeat was steady under my ear. His warmth seeped into my bones. His presence surrounded me, solid and real and safe.
Eventually, his breathing slowed. His grip on me loosened slightly. His body relaxed into the mattress.
I smiled against his chest.
“I love you,” I whispered.
He didn’t respond. He was already asleep.
But that was okay. I would tell him again in the morning. And the morning after that. And every morning for the rest of our lives.
I closed my eyes and let sleep take me too.
27
— • —
Lina
“Come on, I have something to show you.”
Knox smiled as he grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the front door. His gray eyes were sparkling with something that looked suspiciously like mischief, and I wasn’t sure if I should be excited or terrified.
“Where are we going?”
“Home. I have a surprise.”
A surprise. Great. The last surprise we’d received had been a pacifier belonging to a kidnapped baby and a photograph proving our enemies were watching us. I wasn’t exactly in the mood for more surprises.
But Knox looked so damn pleased with himself that I couldn’t say no.
Thea and Rowan were at kindergarten, finally back to their normal activities after days of being cooped up at home. The supervision had been intense. Guards at every entrance of the school. Wolves stationed in the parking lot. Teachers briefed on the situation and given emergency protocols. Moonfang’s guards had helped too, their extra presence making both Knox and me feel more secure about letting the twins out of our sight. But the twins had been so happy when we told them they could go back that all the extra precautions felt worth it.
They really missed their classmates. Thea had talked about nothing else for two days straight. Rowan had been quieter about it, but I had seen the way his eyes lit up when we mentioned school.
Knox, being Knox, had bought small gifts for them to bring. Little treats and toys for each of their classmates, plus a picnic basket filled with snacks they could share during lunch. When I asked why, he just shrugged and said he wanted the twins to have a good first day back.
I loved him for that. For the big gestures and the small ones. For the way he thought about our children’s happiness even when the world was falling apart around us.
Last night had been long but good. Blake had woken up around one in the morning to nurse, and I had changed her diaper while she fussed and squirmed and eventually settled back to sleep. The other two times she cried, Knox had told me to stay in bed.
