Page 68 of Ruin

Her shoulders curled inward, and he could hear her swallow convulsively from ten feet away.

“She died anyway. There weren’t any stim-pods on Protus, nothing strong or advanced enough to cure her permanently. But those treatments bought us an extra seven months. An extrapain freeseven months.”

Godsdamn it. His heart felt like it was cracking in his chest.

“I’m so sorry, Lira,” he rasped, knowing the words were inadequate, but not knowing what else to say.

“It was only supposed to be for three years. And I didn’t give up memory rights. I guess that’s why Vargot never took me with him when he had to venture out of the Outer Rims.”

If he could bring that Mogovian fuck back to life just to kill him again, slower this time, he’d do it in a heartbeat.

Unable to stand the distance between them, he approached slowly, not wanting to startle her. He gently placed a hand on her shoulder, offering silent comfort and support. She leaned into his touch, some of the tension leaving her small frame.

“I don't regret it,” she said softly. “Those extra months with my mother were worth it. But I hate that Vargot stole so much more from me than I ever agreed to give.”

The urge to gather her into his arms and shield her from any further pain was almost overwhelming. But he held back, letting her have space, at least until she gave him some signal that space was wholly fucking overrated.

“He took more than he ever had a right to,” he rumbled. “But he can’t take any more. You’re free now, little bird.”

She turned, tilting her head back to meet his gaze. Her expression was unreadable, a mix of emotions he couldn’t quite parse.

He swallowed hard, knowing the next words he spoke would change everything. “You have a choice now. You can stay here with us, with me… or I can take you somewhere safe, where you can start over.”

This was the moment. This was when she’d tell him what she really wanted, when she’d make the choice that’d either keep him whole or shatter him completely.

Every muscle in his body was taut, coiled, ready to spring into action to convince her, to beg her if it came to that. But he stayed silent, waiting, because this had to be her decision.

She licked her lips in a gesture that struck him as nervous, but her gaze didn’t waver from his. “If I stay, I would like to keep you.”

“You would… what?” he croaked.

Had she just said what he thought she said?

He didn’t breathe, didn’t blink, in case he’d somehow conjured this moment into existence by desperation alone.

“I would like to keep you,” she repeated. “For forever.” Her gaze bounced back and forth between his. “Okay?”

Ruin blinked down at her, lips quirking slowly, dazedly. A wave of relief washed through him, and he wasn’t sure if he was more shocked by her claiming admission or that he was still standing there, dumbstruck.

He wanted to swoop down, haul her against his chest, and kiss her fucking senseless. This was real, wasn’t it? She’d agreed to stay. To be his. For-fucking-ever?

In his haze, all he could do was mutter back a simple, “Okay.”

She let out a whooshing breath and smiled beatifically. “Good.” Her brows lifted expectantly. “So… ”

“So?” he repeated, feeling like his brain was still playing catch up.

“So how do we solidify this keeping? Do I add my name to your tattoos or—oooh—maybe we can get some kind of implant so you can only go a certain distance from me? I like that idea. Can we do that?”

Adorable, deranged little female. Gods, he didn’t think he’d ever been so turned on in his fucking life.

Fuck it. If it meant he could keep her…

“Yeah, bird, we can do that. We can do anythin’ you want.”

And he meant it.

Some of the bright light in her eyes dimmed, replaced by uncertainty. “Are you sure? You’re not going to change your mind about me? Because if you say yes to me keeping you, I need you to mean it. Really mean it, Ruin. I don’t want there to be any take backs. Because I don’t want, wouldneverwant, to trap you the way I?—”

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