Page 88 of Captivating

Wishing I could shield her from this pain.

But knowing I can’t.

I suck in a deep breath, but it doesn’t help.

Nothing will.

“Lilah . . . you were pregnant.”

It’s the first time I’ve said the words since the doctor told us.

And it guts me all over again.

I didn’t save them.

Either of them.

“I’m so fucking sorry I couldn’t save you.”

“What?” she asks as a sob catches in her throat. “I wasn’t pregnant. I would have known.”

“It was early. There was too much damage. Too much blood.” I choke on the words and wrap both arms around Lilah as she shakes.

“We lost our baby? I never even knew I was pregnant, and she took that from us?” she cries, and my heart breaks all over again.

“I’m so sorry, baby.” I hold her, murmuring the words over and over again while she soaks my shirt with her tears.

I’m not sure how much time passes before she has no more tears to shed.

“You have nothing to be sorry for, Killian. None of this is your fault. It’s not mine either. We didn’t do this. A crazy woman did.” Her breathing stutters, and she presses a hand to my heart. “Will we be able to have more kids?”

The question is barely above a whisper of a breath into the dark hospital room, she utters it so quietly.

“The doctor said there shouldn’t be any issue when you’re ready,” I tell her with my lips pressed against her temple. “I love you so much, Lilah. I swear to God, if I had lost you, they would have been burying me beside you. I don’t want to live in a world you’re not in, princess.”

Her breathing slows, and long minutes later, she kisses my cheek. “Hey, champ...” Her voice is soft and quiet but not broken. She’s here and she’s breathing and she’s mine. We can deal with everything else together. “I don’t really hate that nickname. I kinda love the way you say it.”

“I will love you forever, Lilah. From my first breath until my last. In every life,” I whisper against her lips.

“From my first breath until my last... That’s a great lyric,” she says as she clutches my shirt. “In every life. In every way.”

“Always us...” I swear to God, I take my first deep, full breath in days.

“Forever.”

Forever.

EPILOGUE

The best part of my day is you. Always you. Forever you.

—Killian’s Secret Thoughts

“Does Mav seem more pissed than normal?” Lilah asks from where she’s sitting in my lap in front of the bonfire on our private stretch of beach. We decided to forgo traditional bachelor and bachelorette parties for a beach party with our closest friends instead.

In our world, it’s perfect. Low-key. Private. And steps away from the houses we’re all crashing in tonight and tomorrow before our wedding on Saturday.

“He prefers broody.” I smile and bury my face in her neck the way I’m going to bury my face in her lace-covered pussy later tonight.

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