Page 106 of The Last Heir of Elsewhere

“Isn’t it?”

I held my breath as the air seemed to thicken, my eyes darting between the two males.

“Fine,” Scion burst out. He rose from his chair and strode over to me, intense fire burning in his silver eyes. “You fucking left.”

“I know,” I swallowed thickly. “But if I hadn’t?—”

“It doesn’t matter,” he raged, moving so close I had to back against the wall to keep him in view. “You could’ve fucking died.”

“And you would’ve died if I stayed,” I snapped, fire rising within me.

He shook his head. “I don’t care.”

He might not care, but I did.

No matter how painful this last week had been for all of us, I wasn’t sorry for what I’d done. If I could go back and live that night over again, I would still leave. Leave to keep them safe, and because ultimately it had led to so many other things. To meeting Ambrose, to finding my mother…to this moment, right now.

I suddenly entirely understood what Ambrose had been trying to tell me about prophecy. About how a single decision would have far reaching consequences.

The thought of losing them, of being responsible for their deaths, felt like an anvil hanging over my head. I couldn't bear the weight of that guilt, the knowledge that I could have saved them. They may not care, but I did. They were everything to me, and I couldn't bear the thought of losing them because of my own mistakes.

I looked to Bael over Scion’s shoulder. “Don’t you have anything to say about this?”

His face held a serious look, unlike the usual playful expression I was accustomed to seeing. When our eyes met, there was a strong intensity in his gaze that I had never noticed before.

Silently, he rose from his seat on the bed and moved across the room. My heartbeat began to pound with some strange combination of fear and anticipation.

He pushed Scion aside, making his way to me. Surprisingly, Scion didn't object and simply moved over. The two of them stood next to each other, gazing down at me.

Bael's hand closed around a fistful of my hair, tugging me toward him. My head tilted back, and I found myself staring into his too-intense eyes. A shiver ran down my spine as he whispered, "Look at me. Never do that again. Do you hear me?”

I sucked in a sharp breath. “I can’t?—”

He let out a frustrated growl and forcefully tugged me toward him. Bending his head down, he captured my lower lip between his sharp teeth. “Promise me.”

“No,” I whispered against his mouth. “I won’t help you die.”

With a guttural sound, he flipped our positions, holding me firm against his chest. “I daresay you’ve solved it, little monster. I will never be fucking happy knowing you have one foot out the door.”

My chest panged. He was wrong, and I was likely lying to myself. I didn’t think I’d ever be able to leave him again—any of them—but if believing I would kept them breathing…

“Good,” I breathed. “I hope I make you miserable.”

Bael bent his head to my neck and ran his tongue over my skin up to the shell of my ear. I gasped.

Feeling a pair of eyes on us, I glanced up to see Scion staring at us with a hungry expression. With only a look, I beckoned him to approach, and he did so without hesitation.

As Scion pressed in toward me, his hot breath tickling my lips, I could feel Bael's soft kisses trailing down the side of my neck from behind. My heart raced with anticipation as their combined touches sent warmth skating over my skin.

I opened my mouth wide to Scion, and playfully flicked my tongue against his lips in a slow, leisurely kiss.

I was still fully clothed, but my skin felt like it was on fire.

I bit down on his lip, but he pulled back before I could break the skin. “None of that, rebel.”

My eyes were glassy and dazed as I looked at him. “But?—"

Did that mean he was finally admitting we were mates, as well as husband and wife? My heart pounded a rapid staccato against my ribs, as Scion’s intense gaze gave me all the confirmation I needed.

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