My fingers tremble as I try to pry the door open, and as soon as the dim light from the hallway pours in, I drag myself outside and softly close the door behind me.
Once I’m sure I didn’t wake anyone, I let myself fall apart. I don’t hold back the tears, just muffle my sobs with my hands. Silent tears streak down my face, my heart beating in my head as I lean back against the door.
I hate that I can still feel his touch, his breath against my neck as he carved into my thigh. The memory is so vivid, it feels like it’s happening all over again. I remember how his facetwisted in shame when I refused his command in front of the Queen. I saw the promise of punishment in his eyes that later became my worst nightmare.
I don’t know how long I sit there shaking with sobs, but eventually the pounding in my head fades to a dull, distant ringing.
Once my broken wails die out and only the tightness in my chest remains, I use the doorframe to push myself up from the floor. The dark, quiet night makes it easy to disappear into the background, so no one gets a front-row seat to my epic meltdown.
A chilling numbness washes over me as I wander into the living room and sink onto the couch. It takes half an hour before reality begins to fight for my attention, trying to pull me back from that night.
I find the remote wedged between the cushions and start scrolling through rows of movies and shows with no intention of watching any of them.
Heavy footsteps snap me out of my mindless scrolling. I turn to find Angel searching the room, rubbing one eye with his fist. He looks ridiculously adorable if I ignore the fact that he’s standing over me in nothing but sweatpants.
I’ve seen the markings on his arms before, but I didn’t expect his chest and abdomen to be covered in the same unique runes and patterns.
Before I can ask him why he’s awake at this hour, Angel lifts me just enough to shift me to the edge of the couch before lying down with his head on my lap and arms wrapped around my waist.
He sleepily nuzzles my stomach, and I don’t let my hesitation stop me from threading my fingers through his soft curls and gently combing through the mess.
“Why aren’t you in bed, sweetheart?” Angel mumbles, his voice muffled with his face pressed against me.
I’ve been sitting here for over an hour waiting for the numbness to fade, but it takes less than a minute with mymate for my muscles to lose their tension.
“Couldn’t sleep.” I curse myself when my voice breaks a little.
“Another nightmare?” he asks, tightening his arms around me like he’s trying to glue us together.
More like a memory I can’t escape.
Angel turns his head on my lap to face the TV. “What are we watching?”
He’s staying?
“I don’t know. I couldn’t decide. IsFrozengood?” I hand him the remote when he waves for it.
“It’s the best.” Angel rolls on his side, back pressed against the sofa. “Come here, baby.” He lifts his arm for me to slide under it.
“You should sleep, Anxo.”
I move closer anyway, unable to resist. Pressing my back to his warm, bare chest, I let him pull me closer until I’m using his arm as my pillow.
“So should you.”
My head is still playing tricks on me, but now that I’ve had some time to settle down, there’s something important I want to tell him. I can’t keep it to myself anymore… not when I know how vulnerable I can be sometimes.
I need to trust someone to protect my kid when I can’t.
“August. I can’t—Iwon’tleave him.”
I don’t know how Angel feels about taking on the responsibility of a kid when he’s so young, but August is mine now. That little boy chose me on his first night in the dungeon, and that same night, I vowed to choose him over everything and everyone else.
Just the thought of a life without Angel leaves a bitter taste in my mouth, but my love and loyalty for that little boy will always come first.
Angel intertwines our fingers over my stomach and kisses my head. “I knew it was a package deal the moment I saw you holding him in those woods. Anyone with eyes can see howattached you both are, and it’s not just you, sweetheart. I adore that kid to no end. August needs stability and a family. We can give that to him. Iwantto give that to him.”
“You do? You want him to stay with us? Forever?”
