“Just a scratch.”
Her expression turns steely. “Do you remember when you told me if anyone touched me, you’d kill them and fuck me in their blood?”
I run my hand through her rain-soaked hair. “What are you implying, Blossom?”
She lets her hand rest on my chest. “They hurt you. Now they’re dead. So—”
I step away from her. “We should get the sword out of the rain.”
Her eyes flash. “Dayton, when I saw you in danger—when Ifeltyou were in danger—every part of me exploded. I don’t think that type of magic just happens. The only other time was when I needed to protect you all. Protect Farron and Kel, my—”
“Don’t go there, Rosie.”
“Why not?” She grips my arm. “Can’t you feel this?”
A growl sounds in my chest, and I yank my arm away. “Do you want to know what I feel, Rosalina O’Connell? What I really feel?”
“And what is that, Prince of the Summer Realm?” Her mouth has shifted into a snarl. I’ve made her mad.
Good. I’d rather her mad than whatever the hell she was trying before. “Relief.”
“Relief?”
“Yes. When I found out you and Farron were mates, all I felt was relief. Relief neither of you belonged tome.”
Her face crumbles. “Day, that night we all spent together …”
“Of course, Iwantyou and Fare, but I also know how fucking awful that would be for both of you.”
She shakes her head. “That’s not true.”
“Everyone I’ve ever loved has met a terrible fate, Rosie. Every single person.” My voice breaks. “I thought for sure I’d take Fare down with me because I can’t give him up. But you saved him fromme.”
“Stop it.” Rosalina grips my arm over the bargain cuff Farron and I share. “There’s nothing terrible about the love you and Farron have for each other. And there’s nothing terrible about what’s between us. I haven’t been brave enough to say it yet, but Dayton, I …”
My entire chest feels like it’s caving in, and I haven’t cried in fucking years. It might be salty tears running down my cheeks, or maybe it’s just rain. “Rosie, stop. I can’t bear it, please.”
But she doesn’t stop. Of course she doesn’t.
“Daytonales, you are my mate.” She snatches my jaw. “Let me fuck you in the blood of the enemies we slayed and prove it.”
I can’t keep her. I can’t own her. But I could give myself this moment. One time with the most perfect woman to ever live. My resolve is weakening, every part of me aching for her. One night with me won’t kill her. She’ll have Fare. She’ll even have Kel.
My death has always been hovering just beyond the horizon. And here it fucking is. Maybe not the death of my body. That’ll carry on. But my soul, my heart—they’re not going to survive losing her.
But I’ve never been one to make the best decisions.
Rosalina stares up at me, eyes flashing like the raging storm.
“Fuck it,” I growl and take her in my arms.
11
Rosalina
Dayton pulls me against him with such force, I’m completely thrown off my feet and into his arms. What was it he had said to me once? That he wanted to crash beneath my waves. Well, now every part of us is colliding.
Rain slides down our faces as we kiss. His tongue parts my lips. I wrap my legs around his waist, and he holds me tight, one hand gliding up my back, the other firmly cupping my ass.
