“Daria,” he said gravely. He crept his fingers into hers.
Given her temper, he waited for her tug her hand back; instead, she pulled him closer, drawing Argyll’s palm close to her heart. “You almost died.” Her eyes blazed. “And I would have never forgiven you.”
He refrained from pointing out the point would be a moot one given his jaunt onto the hereafter.
She bowed her head. “You almost died. F-For m…”
“Please, don’t cry,” he implored; he’d get down on his knees for her.
“me.” Daria wept.
“Without regrets,” he said. “I will lay down my life for you.”
She cried harder.
“Shh,” he soothed. Her misery tore deep. He’d take that same dagger a dozen times, to the chest and belly if she’d just stop.
She glowered through her tears. “And if you’re dead, Gregory?Hmm? What then?”
He welcomed her anger. Her weeping broke him. “I’m not sure of the question.”
“Well, I will be themosttragic widow the world has seen, and then some rake will believe me lonely.” She paused. “Which Iwillbe if you’re dead, Gregory. He will look to warm my—”
He knew why his wife left the rest unsaid. His eyes bulged.
An unholy burning seared through his veins, and his nostrils flared. “I will haunt him,” he vowed, his voice a lethal whisper. “All of them.”
“I would rather you just stay alive so we needn’t worry about it, Gregory.”
Lips twitching, Argyll stroked the curve of her hip. “Very well. I accept your offer.”
She edged back, searching his face for humor. He kept absolutely still.
Daria sank back next to him. “It was supposed to be me, Gregory.”
Wait a minute…
He frowned. “I thought you said—”
“No, I mean, the curse dictated it was my time. You reallyshouldn’thave interfered.”
“You are angry that I—”
“Jumped in the way of my blade?” She nodded. “Very much so.”
“I am sure your brother was pleased.”
“Most. And grateful.”
And, no doubt regretful Argyll hadn’t kicked it.
“I love you.” Anguish bled from her eyes. “I don’t want to live without you, Gregory.”
“You won’t, love. I’m here,” he said quietly, stroking the top of her head to soothe her.
Oh, how he loved her. Argyll urged her to join him in the bed. He needed to feel their bodies touch. To know they both walked and lived and breathed upon this earth. But even more, he needed to view her, to see with his own eyes that she was real. That she’d survived.
They lay, he on his back and Daria curved against him, careful to not touch his opening. The silence was peaceful.
