Kirov made a sound in the back of his throat. Not quite a growl, but softer.
“You saw what he is like,luxiva,” Kirov said, his brow furrowing. “For one, he is dangerous. Unpredictable. He grows violent when he is confused or in a delirious state. One strike from him would seriously injure you. And Ineverwant you in any situation where there is a possibility for harm.”
“Tell me another,” she said.
He frowned. “I…I am…”
“Tell me,” she whispered.
“I am ashamed,” he finally admitted and she felt his jaw tense in her hand. “I did not want you to see him that way. I wanted you to meet him as the male he once was. The male I was proud to call my sire. The male who would be happy for me when I introduced him to myluxiva.”
Lainey’s vision grew blurry from tears.
“I know I should not be,” Kirov said, not stopping now. “I should not be ashamed of my own sire. But it is difficult to see him this way, though I should be used to it. I feel guilt whenever I am away from Troxva, but I feel relief every time I leave.”
Lainey brushed her hand through his hair, tears dripping down her cheeks.
“Tell me another,” she whispered.
Kirov’s gaze connected with hers and she’d never felt closer to another being in her entire life.
Finally, he admitted, “I feared you would leave if you knew the truth.”
Lainey swallowed hard at the confession.
“It was an illogical fear. I know that you would not leave solely for that,” he said softly and his words comforted her. “But he is my sire. He is a part of my life and would, by extension, be a part of yours. He can be difficult to handle.”
“You know I never back down from a challenge,” she whispered, giving him a small smile.
Kirov relaxed a little at her teasings and said, “Nix, female, you do not.”
She leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his cheek, letting her lips linger. “Thank you. Thank you for telling me but you haven’t scared me off.”
“Nix?” he asked.
“No,” she said, pulling back to look in the eyes. “I’m sorry you’ve had to go through this, Kirov. I cannot imagine what it has been like.”
“I should have told you,” he said. “Long ago. I am sorry.”
“I understand why it took time,” she murmured, “now that you’ve told me. I forgive you for that.”
Kirov leaned his forehead on hers, getting close, and rasped, “I do not deserve you, female. Sometimes, I think the Fates made a mistake. Sometimes, I think you were meant for a male much greater than I.”
Lainey’s breath hitched because she knew he meant it. She pressed a kiss to his lips, breathing him in. And she knew that they still had a lot to work through, a lot to talk about, but she knew it would all be okay.
She had faith.
She hadKirov.
“I don’t want someone perfect. Because heaven knowsI’mnot perfect,” she whispered. “But I’m beginning to think these Fates know what they’re doing…because I think that we’re perfect foreach other.”
And that was all that mattered.
* * *
Later that night,Lainey lay awake in their bed. Kirov had fallen into a deep sleep after they’d released some tension together once they returned from the lake, but she couldn’t find sleep. She didn’twantto. Not yet anyways.
She had her cheek pressed into his naked chest, her arm wrapped possessively around his waist. She listened to the soft beat of his heart, so different than her own.
