He hesitated. "Just... thinking."
"About?"
He turned then, his eyes shadowed. "About you. About the baby. About Angel...and how she died. About
Ophelia. I can’t believe she is gone. I keep worrying something will happen to you."
Rune looked up at him, startled by the raw fear in his voice.
"Everyone leaves in the end," he said quietly. "And Ophelia is gone as well. I just..." His throat worked. "I can't lose you too."
Her heart twisted with sympathy. "You won't," she said softly. "I'm not going anywhere."
"You don't know that."
"Maybe not," she said, pressing a kiss into his back, "but I just know."
He let out a shaky breath before turning and resting his forehead against hers. She could feel the rapid beat of his heart against her breast.
"Let's go back to bed," she murmured.
***
In the weeks that followed, Dorian changed in ways she wouldn't have believed possible. He'd reconciled with Ophelia, who had once been like a grandmother to him. Rune had met her before she passed. To Rune's surprise, she'd taken a liking to her almost instantly, fussing over her as if trying to make up for lost time.
Ophelia had also forgiven Dorian, at least, mostly, for his treatment of Aria. Crispin, too, had made peace. With Dorian's help and, surprisingly, Aria's, he'd taken over the company. Alice, always the pragmatic one, had sided with her brother, quietly grateful that the old wounds were finally closing.
So, when Crispin invited them for a small celebration, Rune had encouraged Dorian to go. He came home late, smelling of whisky, his tie crooked, his smile a little loopy when he crept into bed beside her.
Rune was already in bed reading when he stumbled in, tugging at his cuffs.
"How did it go? " she asked.
He grinned, the charming, dangerous kind of grin she'd learned to be wary of. "Missed me?"
"Terribly," she said dryly.
He reached into his pocket and fumbled with something. "Hold out your hand."
"Dorian, you're drunk."
"Hand."
Sighing, she held it out. He caught it in both of his hands, his touch warm and unsteady. When she realised what he was doing, her eyes widened.
"Dorian-"
"Shh." He slid a massive solitaire ring onto her finger, his gaze intent. "You're not allowed to refuse."
"Excuse me?"
"You're not taking it off. You're not leaving." His words were thick and slurred. "You love me. I know you do. And I would do anything for you, even tear my own heart out. So, you can't say no. You are not allowed. Or I have a pair of shiny handcuffs for you to try."
Rune stared at him, torn between exasperation and something far too tender. "That’s not how things work."
He smiled crookedly, then leaned down and kissed her hand before promptly collapsing beside her on the bed, still in his suit.
The next morning, she found him squinting at the sunlight, muttering under his breath. She handed him two aspirins and a glass of water.
