My back straightens as the lie falls from his lips, and I peel away from the embrace.
“Tell me. What is it, Sava?”
He must see I won’t back down because he sighs again, running a hand over his face.
“I told her I wasn’t coming to Katya’s engagement party, and she lost it.”
“Engagement party?” I frown. “Wait, is this the cousin you care about?”
“Yeah.”
“And why aren’t you going? Do you have a game that day?” Severin went back to training this week, his concussion cleared, but he hasn’t played yet.
“No, it doesn’t look like I’ll be playing these playoffs at all. Unless we make it to the final round.”
“Okay, so what is it then?”
“I don’t want to drag you there.”
“You don’t want me to go?” That sick feeling of being less, of being poor and unwanted, tries to slither past my skin. Severin catches it right away, because of course he does. His eyes turn dark, his body tense and in one sweep, I’m on my back with him hovering over me.
“No. Don’t even think to think those thoughts. I want you by my side day and night. I’m not going therewithoutyou. And you’re not going because you’ve been through enough this past month. You don’t need extra stress in your life. I don’t want anyone pestering you.”
“Sava…” I place my hand over his cheek and raise to brush my lips across his. “You can’t protect me from everything.”
“Watch me,” he grounds out petulantly, and I chuckle. It has been nice living in his protective bubble this month, but I can’t keep it up much longer.
“Stop. I’m fine, I promise, and I’d never forgive myself if you weren’t there for your cousin.”
“Aurora.”
“I can stay home if that’ll make you more comfortable, but you should go.”
“That will most definitely not make me more comfortable!”
“Then I guess I’m coming with you.” I smile and bat my eyes at his furrowed expression.
“Aurora. It will be too much—”
“No,” I stop him. “I need to keep living. I need to keep going. Dad wouldn’t want me to bury myself alongside him.” Closing my eyes, I swallow a lump of emotions. “We knew his days were numbered. We knew it was coming, I just didn’t expect it to happen like that. But Emett and I need to keep living.”
Sava’s eyes watch mine carefully. “I always said you were the strongest person I know.” He kisses me softly.
“Your kisses won’t make me change my mind, just so you know.”
He chuckles. “It’s worth a try, though.”
“I’m still coming. I know it’ll be hard for you to see your family. Let me be there for you this time.”
“You have no idea what you’re asking for, Lychik. They are not nice people.”
I gently caressed his stubbled cheek. “Precisely why I’d never leave you alone with them. Don’t forget, I still want to rip them to shreds for hurting you.”
One corner of his mouth lifts. “Now we’re talking.”
We both laugh, and Sava drapes his body over mine, stuffing his face into my neck as I run my fingers through his dirty blond strands.
“Where is it going to be?”
