Page 92 of Riot

FORTY-SEVEN

Kage left the studio earlier since he had a meeting with the producers of our upcoming concert. It means I can continue recording, and when I’m satisfied and exhausted, I head home, hoping he will be there. I can’t wait to crawl into bed with him and sleep, but when I get there, it’s quiet.

Too quiet.

Opening the front door, I peer inside, frowning as his crooning voice fills the air, soft and loving. The lyrics and music are unfamiliar.

“Kage?” I call as I shut the door. I can’t see the guards anywhere, which is strange. They have become a constant in our lives, something Kage won’t compromise on. “Kage?” I call again as I head deeper into the house.

I freeze, gaping at the sight before me. Kage is wearing a suit, the deep V of the black, glittering jacket exposing his chest and a new tattoo I haven’t seen before—a dahlia, if I’m not mistaken. His pants are perfectly pressed, and his hair is slicked back. He is surrounded by more dahlias than I have ever seen. They cover every surface, with candles and lanterns hanging from the ceiling, the flickering flames making everything extra romantic. When my eyes connect with his, he smiles, offering me his hand.

Stepping down the carefully created path between the flowers, I lay my hand in his. “What is this?” I ask softly as I look around, his voice crooning over the speakers.

“Fallon, you are the love of my life. You know that. I haven’t made it a secret.” I can’t help but laugh, and he grins. “There is only one more thing to do so everyone, including you, knows I’m not going anywhere.”

“Kage . . .” I frown, a feeling welling in my chest.

Adrenaline maybe?

“We’re taking root, like these flowers, baby,” he promises. “We’ll keep growing together, keep loving and finding happiness.” He drops to his knees. “I will stay here, on my knees for the rest of my life. It’s yours, as am I. Fallon, my love, will you marry me? Will you make me yours?”

As I stare into his hopeful eyes, there is only one thing I can say, and the word rolls from my tongue before I can even think it. My usual perfect composure disappears in the face of his devotion. “Yes,” I whisper.

His eyes widen as if he thought he would have to fight me, and honestly, I did too. He leaps to his feet and slides the biggest rock I have ever seen onto my finger. It’s black with blue stones surrounding it and so beautiful I could cry. “No taking it off now,” he says as he kisses me deeply. “You’re going to be my wife, Fallon.”

I swallow at that word, staring into his eyes as fear suddenly takes root. I don’t want him to have regrets, so he needs to know.

“I don’t want children.” I say it as a passing comment, another excuse for him to change his mind before it’s too late. I swallow and repeat it, filled with prideful hurt. “I don’t ever want children.”

He simply smiles. “I’m not marrying you for the children you could give me. I’m marrying you because I’m in love with you and can’t imagine my life without you. It’s your body, your choice. I don’t need kids to be happy. I just need you.”

“I can’t do it, Kage,” I whisper, my voice fearful but also filled with understanding.

“You don’t owe me or anyone an explanation.”

“But I want you to know why. I don’t think I would be a good mother. I’m too cold, too filled with pain and anger to hold them softly. I might have my mother’s insecure, quiet voice, never defending or loving them enough. I could have my father’s anger and righteousness, meaning I might not speak to them with kindness or love. I don’t want to pass on what they passed to me. It’s my legacy, and it will die with me. A child or children would deserve better than me as a mother. I’m too broken to care for another, but Kage, if I would have kids with anyone, it would be with you.”

Taking a deep breath, he cups my face and stares deep into my eyes, as if to make sure I hear him. “You never need to care for me, be gentle, or hold back your anger. I mean it, Fallon. Children or no children, I’m marrying you, but just know, you would be an amazing mother. You were born for more than making another generation though. Just because you have a womb doesn’t mean you have to use it. I want to marry you because I love you, because I can’t live without you. No other reason.”

I search his eyes, seeing the truth there, and I almost slump in relief. I should have known better. Kage made his feelings for me very clear. He wants me however he can get me, and he would never try to tell me what to do or have expectations of me. Maybe that’s unhealthy, but it’s also a relief when all I have ever known is love with strings.

“I love you, my fiancé,” I tell him, and he smiles, tugging me into his arms.

“I love you too, my beautiful fiancée.” He kisses my head. “We’re getting married as soon as possible. I can’t have you overthinking it and changing your mind.”

I giggle as he wraps me in his arms, and with his love song filling the air and the flowers spread around us, we rock to the music, our hearts beating in sync.

A smile I will never be rid of curves my lips as he sings along to his song in my ear, giving me my very own show.

We stay like that for a while, just rocking to the soft melody, our eyes and bodies locked together until he pulls back when the next song finishes.

“Oh, I forgot to give you this.” He pulls out a piece of paper, and I burst into laughter as he holds me up, grinning.

I scan the words, my smile only growing. It’s a signed document saying he is healthy and can resume normal activities, and there are more signatures than I have ever seen. When I glance at him, he wiggles his eyebrows as he leans in and kisses me. “That means that tonight and every night after, you’re mine, Fallon.”

Gripping his neck, I slide my hands up into his hair and mess it up as I grin. “No, it means you’re mine,” I purr as I lean in and kiss him.

The music continues to spill around the room, the candles flickering as we kiss. It’s filled with love, both of us knowing we have all the time in the world now. His hands slide down my back as my own massage his shoulders, and he lays me down on the floor, right there in the dahlia petals.

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