"What's wrong?"
Everything. Everything was wrong.
"You need to get dressed. Something you don't mind getting dirty. We're leaving in twenty minutes."
I used the exact words I did last time because I couldn't bring myself to tell her that I was going to traumatize her again. She understood as her eyes widened in fear.
Actual fear.
The smile faded. "Leaving? Where?"
"I have business to handle. You're coming with me."
"Kai, no. Not after last time. I don't want to see—"
"This isn't optional." The words came out harsher than I intended. "You need to understand what that means. What this life actually is."
She stood, crossing her arms. "I understand plenty from last time. I don't need to see more people get hurt—"
"Yes, you do."
God, I didn't want this. Didn't want her to see me like this again. Didn't want to watch the light in her eyes die a little more.
But I had no choice. None at all.
"I already know what kind of family I'm marrying into, Kai. I know the evil that exists here. I've seen enough."
Her words hit like physical blows. The casual way she said evil. Like she'd already categorized me. Already decided what I was.
It hurt more than I wanted to admit. More than I'd ever let show.
"You think you know." I kept my voice level. "But you don't. Not really. And stubborn as you're being about this—which is actually kind of cute—it doesn't change the facts. You're coming with me."
"Cute? You think this is cute?" But I saw color flood her cheeks. Saw the way her pupils dilated slightly.
"Yeah. You get this little wrinkle right here—" I tapped between her eyebrows. "—when you're being difficult. It's adorable."
"I am not being difficult, I'm being reasonable—"
"This is the last time." The words came out quieter. More honest than I intended. "I promise. This is the last time I'll ask you to witness this shit. But it's my father's order. He wants you there. And I can't refuse him without—" I stopped. Couldn't finish that sentence. "Please."
Something in her expression shifted. Softened. She uncrossed her arms.
"Well. Since you called me cute. And smiled." Her lips quirked up slightly. "Fine. But I'm not happy about it."
Relief flooded through me. I crossed to her, pulled her against me. Needed to touch her. Needed this moment before everything went to hell.
"You shouldn't start something you can't finish." Her hands settled on my chest, fingers splaying across muscle. "Unless you want us to not leave here today."
My hands slid down to her ass, squeezed, then moved up her back slowly. Deliberately. "Who says I want to leave here?"
She smiled, and fuck, that smile. "Promise me something first. Promise me no violence. No shooting. No one gets hurt."
The request made my throat tight. Made lying to her actively painful.
"Sure."
The word came out wrong. Too flat. Too quick.
