Page 151 of Vengeful Guard

“Paige? Is that you, a’stor?”

“It’s me, Da.” Tears stream down my face.

“You’re hurt.”

“So are you,” I tease, and at least his eyes are sparkling.

“What happened?”

“Murphy,” Kael speaks up, and Da looks up at him and then back at me.

He raises an eyebrow.

I can’t help but chuckle. “We’re together, Da. I love him.”

He simply hums, raising an eyebrow, and when I pat his hand, he takes mine, wrapping his fingers around mine.

His hand feels warmer, if still a bit swollen.

“You’re not mad?”

“Why would I be mad, a’stor? I’ve always wanted you to find your prince. Might as well be an Irishman.”

Kael laughs at that, and I do too, briefly, before gasping as my ribs hurt.

Da frowns. “You need to rest, Paige.”

His own eyes are drifting closed, and I smile at him. “I think we both do.”

“I just…I’m sorry, for what happened. For you getting shot?—”

“It’s not your fault, a’stor.” Da looks at Kael. “None of yours.”

Kael’s face changes so quickly I can barely see what emotion passes over his face.

In seconds, Da’s snoring softly, and I look up at Kael.

Silently, he takes me back to my room where he helps me back into bed, and I lay as comfortably as I can with the IV and my back brace.

I scoot over, motioning for him to sit next to me, and he does, and I realize he’s shaking all over.

“Kael, what’s wrong?”

“All this time, I thought it was my fault. I thought your da would hate me because I was distracted, because I didn’t take the bullet for him.”

“Of course, he doesn’t hate you, Kael?—”

“I was distracted, though, Paige. I was distracted by you.”

I can’t help but smile, but Kael looks on the verge of tears. “It’s all right, Kael. Things worked out like they were supposed to.”

“No, they didn’t.” He’s still shaking. “Your father got hurt. You got hurt. And it’s all because we fell in love.”

I frown. “It's not because we fell in love. Shit like this happens all the time, Kael. You might as well blame the sun from shining. The Burkes have always had enemies. They always will. You can protect me as much as you can, but you can’t protect me from everything. No one can.”

I lean my head against his shoulder and eventually, Kael calms down, his breathing coming more even.

I lean closer to his chest. “You must be exhausted.”

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