He starts walking toward me, as if I am the only thing that ever mattered, like the world could still be burning behind him and he wouldn’t care as long as he gets to touch me.
My throat tightens. My eyes sting. My fingers curl around the edge of the table as if I’m afraid my body won’t hold me upright.
He reaches me in seconds.
Without uttering a single word, he cups my face with both hands and leans down, kissing me.
Not soft. Not careful. A kiss that pours every bit of love he has into me. Every ounce of relief. Every ounce of fear he swallowed. Every promise he’s ever made to himself about keeping me safe.
I cling to his shirt, gripping him like he might disappear if I loosen my hold.
I need him to be real. I need him here. I need him alive.
He pulls back just enough for his mouth to brush mine as he speaks, voice rough, reverent, wrecked.
“We’re free, lastochka,” he whispers.
My breath catches.
“It’s over.”
My whole body melts. I sag into him like gravity has finally loosened its grip on my throat.
His arms wrap around me, tight and unbreakable, and I press my face into his chest, breathing him in like oxygen. Hetips my chin up again, forcing me to look at him. His blue eyes burn into mine. “You did that, Lily,” he murmurs. “Your brave actions helped to end the Preacher.”
My lips tremble.
His thumb strokes my cheek like he’s memorizing the fact I’m still here.
“You saved my life,” he continues quietly. “Actually… you saved me in many ways.”
My chest aches. I can’t speak. Not yet.
“I want to spend the rest of my days showing you how grateful I am for you. One day soon, I’ll marry you, lastochka,” he says, then quickly follows up with, “but this isn’t your proposal, you’ll have to wait for that.”.
Then he kisses me again, harder this time, like he’s making it a vow. Like he’s sealing it into my skin.
When he finally pulls back, I’m shaking again. But it’s different now.
“Can we go home, Drago?” I whisper.
He smiles against my lips, soft and deadly and beautiful. “We can go wherever you like, baby,” he murmurs. “My home is wherever you are.”
And the words hit me like something I’ve been starving for without even knowing it.
Years of thinking I was broken. Years of thinking no one could love me as I am.
Maybe part of that was right.
Because I was never meant to find anyone else.
I was always meant to find him.
Drago.
My first true love.
My only love.
