Page 103 of Their Demon

Chapter 42

Keir

Lillian yanked her arm from my grasp once we got to the car.

“What the hell, Keir?” she yelled, slamming her fists against my chest. Her breathing was rapid, tears forming in her eyes. “You… youliedto me.”

“I didn’t lie to you, I just didn’t tell—”

“That’s the same fucking thing! I can't believe you.” Her eyes were glassy, lips quivering. She shook her head and looked at me like I was a stranger. “You always fucking lie to me, and I’ve always given you the truth. All I ever wanted was…”

My heart was pounding, my ears ringing. “Was what? What do you want?” Whatever it was, whatever she wanted, I would get it for her. I’d give her the fucking world to make up for what I’d done.

“You…”

Nicholas and Aiden stood behind her, arms crossed, shaking their heads. They’d been the ones encouraging me to tell her, but I never could bring myself to do it. She wasn’t meant to find out like this. I felt horrible about that, but the adrenaline of the moment was pumping through me, and it just felt right. I wanted the world to know she wasmine.

It was just another item on my list of things I’d fucked up.

“I’m sorry,” I spoke with all my heart. “I swear. I was going to tell you, but—”

“But nothing! There is no excuse for this. I thought you’d gotten past all the secrecy shit, Keir. I thought things were different. I thought… I thoughtwewere different.” The tears began to spill, and she turned to the twins, who pulled her into a hug between them. Nicholas planted kisses on her head while he murmured comforting things and Aiden stroked her back.

That’s when I felt it. My chest grew painfully heavy. I couldn’t breathe.Fuck. My chest hurt so badly. It was unlike anything I’d ever experienced before. I was sure someone had taken a blade and shoved it through my heart. I clutched my chest.

Hail Satan, I did this.

It was her heart. I’d broken it, and I couldn’t believe she was still standing, given how painful it was for me.

“Lillian…” I forced out.

She turned in time to see me sink to my knees, her eyes red from crying, cheeks wet from the tears. “Keir?” Did she sound worried aboutme? She left the comfort of the twins, dropping to her knees in front of me, cradling my face in her hands. “What’s wrong, Keir?” She looked over me, as if checking for physical wounds, but she would never find what she was looking for.

“I’m so,sosorry,” I admitted to her. My eyesight was blurring. I tried to blink the feeling away, but instead, tears fell, streaming down my cheeks. I was crying.

“Keir…” she whispered in the space between us, weeping with me.

She wrapped her arms around me, and then it was my turn to break. When I cried out, she just held me tighter. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her tightly, wanting to absorb her into my skin so I could never have to go without her ever again.

We wept together, sobs filling the alley we sat in, clinging to each other with everything we had. When I hugged her tighter, she reciprocated. I wasn’t sure how much time passed, not sure how many tears had been shed at this point, only that the excruciating pain in my chest had subsided to a lesser burn. It filled me with hope.

I didn’t want to, but I loosened my grip on her, pulling her away from me and holding her face in my hands. It hurt to see the pain I’d caused still wetting her face, but she was not actively crying anymore. I sat a few seconds longer, searching for any hint that we could be fixed, that it wasn’t too late.

“Princess…” I kissed her forehead with a gentleness I didn’t know I possessed. “I am sorry. I’m a stupid, stupid man. I should have told you, and I’m sorry I didn’t.” I grazed my thumb over her lips, and she inhaled sharply. “Please tell me I didn’t fuck it all up. Tell me I can fix this. Tell me it’s not too late. I’ll do anything to make you smile again. I cannot bear to be without you, not now, not ever.”

She swallowed, eyes on mine, but didn’t say a word.

“You said you wanted me, Lillian, but I’ve always belonged to you. From the first time I saw you. My entire fucking being belongs to you. All of it. My head. My heart. Everything. I’ve always been yours.”

She still didn’t speak, and the feeling of wanting to cry returned.

“That's why I killed all those men who hurt you, princess. That’s why I erased every man's memory of you,” I finally admitted.

“You erased what? You never told me about that.” She looked down.

“I couldn't stand the thought of another man thinking of you, of your body. So I found them, all of them, and made sure they’d never remember you.” She didn’t say anything, didn’t look up. “Does that upset you?” I was afraid I’d fucked up there too, taking things too far.

She shook her head. “No… but… that must've taken… forever.” Shame flooded her voice, which had not been my intention in bringing this up. I couldn’t stop hurting her, even now, when I was trying to fix things.

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