His whole body trembled.
Rose’s brow softened, something new in her gaze that he was too terrified to name. “Dav, I don’t question what you feel for me, but is it maybe not enough?”
Tears sprung to his eyes, and it was instinct to try to turn away. While she let him, her hands didn’t leave his cheeks, thumbs running over his damp skin.
“Baby, please look at me. It’s okay.”
“You are enough, Rosalind,” he choked out, shaking his head. “Please, Ican’t—I can’t lose him.”
“I know.” Her tone was so certain that he had to blink to clear the blurriness from his eyes just to make sure. “But it’s killing you, isn’t it?”
There was a sadness in her voice now, not one of jealousy or anger, but empathy and understanding. It made every wall he’d ever built crumble.
“He can’t love me, not… not like I love him. Gods, I love him so much, Rose. So much. I never thought?—”
Her thumbs swiped away a tear. “You never thought someone would find out.” She closed her eyes, pressing her forehead to his. “Baby, I hate to say this, but you’re really bad at hiding it.”
“I think you’re just too observant.”
“And I think you might not give him enough credit.”
“Rose.” Dav pulled away. “I proposed to him.”
She blinked. “What?”
“A blightspawn cake. And he… thought it was for the display.”
Rosalind stared at him.
He stared back.
Then he saw the twitch.
“Don’t you dare,” he warned.
She snorted, then slapped a hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry,” she said through her fingers, eyes crinkling at the edges. “It’s not funny.”
She was still fighting laughter.
Davarox groaned and buried his face in her shoulder again. “Gods, it’s so embarrassing.”
“No, no,” Rose said through her soft chuckles, gathering him in her small arms. “That’s… that’s just Laz. He can be so in tune with you and still miss the most obvious signs.”
“Years, Rosalind. I’ve kept this secret since the day we met.”
She was back to petting his back with a gentle hand. “You really think he hasn’t noticed? What about Severath?”
Dav huffed. “He might be more oblivious than Laz.”
Rose was quiet for long enough that he had to shift, but this time he was the one pulling her into his arms. He eased them until his back was against the bedframe, letting her rest her head against his chest as he stroked a thumb over her shoulder.
“I am sorry you found out this way,” he said. “And I meant it when I said… you are enough.”
Her arms tightened. “Dav?—”
“I was miserable until you, Rose. I didn’t know that it could feel…” He fumbled for words, then reached down and moved her hand to rest over his heart. “Like this. Just because I feel something for him doesn’t mean there’s not enough in here for you.”
She tapped her fingers over his chest. “You know, I think there are two of us in this room who understand that more than anyone.”
