"Other days I remember that defending human children during wartime was the right choice, regardless of political consequences."
He defended human children.The pieces of his past click into place with the exile, the shame, the strict way he talks about honor and protecting people.
"What did you do?"
"Nothing heroic. I prevented unnecessary casualties during a territorial dispute. Children were caught in the crossfire, and I chose their safety over tactical advantage." His voice flattens. "My unit suffered losses because of that choice. Families blamedme for deaths that might have been prevented with different priorities."
"You saved children."
"I failed my warriors."
"You made an impossible choice in an impossible situation."
"I made the choice that cost me everything." He finally meets my eyes. "Including the right to represent myself as suitable for someone like you."
The vulnerability beneath his words breaks my heart. This strong, thoughtful man who defended me to cameras and producers, who speaks about honor and partnership like they're sacred concepts, who makes tea and talks about metalworking with quiet passion, reduced to shame because he chose mercy over strategy.
"You're wrong," I say.
"About what?"
"About not being suitable. About not being worthy. About my parents not loving everything I'm falling for."
He goes very still. "Falling for?"
Shit. Did I just...?
"I..." My face burns. "I meant... that is..."
"Trinity."
"Yes?"
"Are you falling for me?"
The question hangs between us like a challenge. Honest answer or safe deflection?
"Yes," I whisper. "I think I am."
His smile starts slow and builds into something radiant. "Good."
"Good?"
"Because I am definitely falling for you."
And then he's kissing me, properly this time, with none of the hesitation from our cinnamon roll moment. His handsframe my face like I'm something precious, and I melt into him completely.
I'm breathless and dizzy and absolutely certain about what I want.
"The family video offer still stands," I manage. "When you're ready. No pressure, no timeline. Just... when you're ready to let someone else see how amazing you are."
"Maybe," he says carefully. "Someday."
"Someday works."
And standing there in our artificial forest, surrounded by fake trees and manufactured romance, what we're building feels like the most real thing I've ever experienced.
CHAPTER 8
