“Except that was the first time I had stepped outside the kingdom. And I think I’d remember fighting three layers of guards to get out.”
The not knowing has haunted me for years, and now, like me, Dean is trying to solve a puzzle that we don’t have all the pieces of.
The words feel heavy before they even leave my mouth, but I need to be prepared for everything.
“Dean, I need you to promise me something.”
“What?”
“If Tiberius ever gets close enough… promise me you’ll kill me.”
A sharp breath leaves him. “Haze…”
“I can’t go back. I won’t. I’m useless to him, Dean. If he finds me, he won’t kill me; he’ll keep me alive too... I can’t do that again.”
“He won’t touch you.” I try to shake my head, but he holds my face, forcing me to meet his eyes. “I will destroy him and everything he loves before he lays a finger on you. He’snotgetting close to you ever again.”
“Promise?” My voice breaks.
Dean grabs the dagger beside me. “Then kill me if I fail you. I’d rather die than watch you get hurt because I couldn’t protect my mate.”
I close my eyes and snuggle closer into him, holding him tight.
“Hazel?”
“Hmm?”
“My leg is falling asleep.”
I laugh, swallowing back tears at the normalcy of him being an idiot, and push myself up.
Dean shakes his leg dramatically as he stands. “You have a giant head. Weighs a ton.”
The audacity is truly unmatched.
I punch his chest with a gasp, but he catches my hand and tugs me closer.
“And you’re abusive too. I really won the mate lottery, didn’t I?” His smile dims as he adds, “I’m sorry fates dumped gave you the entire quota of trauma in this relationship.”
“I won’t hold it against them if they let me keep you forever.”
His eyes light up, and I know I’ve said too much.
“I knew you were obsessed with me! Be honest, it’s my smile, isn’t it? Drives you insane?”
I glare at him, but his grin only widens. I roll my eyes, pressing my lips together to hide my own smile.
“You know, sometimes I can’t tell if you want to kiss me or kill me.”
“Right now? I want to kill you.”
He leans in, his lips barely brushing mine, and I rise on my toes to close the gap, chasing the high only his touch can give me.
Dean pulls back with a smirk. “I don’t believe you.”
I squeal when he picks me up and carries me to the bed before sliding in behind me like we’ve been doing this forever.
Sleep pulls me under faster than ever before, my mate holding me against his chest, his arms wrapped so tightly around me I couldn’t move even if I tried.
