Page 133 of Gathered Sparkle

“I couldn’t let myself break,” I mutter. “If I’d… if I’d lost it in front of him, he would’ve hurt her. I couldn’t let that happen.”

“You stayed present, you acted, and you got through it. That takes strength.”

Strength. I huff out a bitter laugh. It didn’t feel like strength when every cell in my body was screaming to bolt, curl into myself, and shut out the world. When Blackwood’s hand gripped my forearm, the world closed in, and it was like I was back there, helpless and exposed.

But I didn’t crumble because Nova was right there. The thought of failing her was louder than the fear.

“Are you breathing like we practiced?” my therapist asks, drawing me back.

I inhale slowly, letting the air fill my lungs, holding it a beat before exhaling. “Yeah. It’s helping.”

“Good. You’ve done well tonight, Alaric. But you’ve pushed through a lot, and it’s natural to feel the weight of it now that you’re safe. I want you to stay close to someone tonight, a friend, or maybe Novalee? You’re not alone, and it’s important you remind yourself of that.”

The knock on the door is soft but hesitant. My head turns toward it, and I feel my chest tighten with a different kind of anticipation. “There’s someone at the door.”

“Your girlfriend?’”

“I hope so,” I murmur into the phone, a weak smile tugging at my lips.

“Good,” she says warmly. “Remember, there is good touch, Alaric. Andshewould never hurt you. You were brave today. You’ve got this.”

I manage a quiet, “Thank you.”

“Anytime. Call me if you need to. I’m here.”

The line clicks off, and I exhale another slow breath before I call out, “Yes?”

Carefully, the door opens, and Nova peeks in. “Are you okay?”

“I am now. Come in.”

She glides in, holding a purple velvet box, her gaze darting around. I’m glad I channeled my anxiety about the evening into tidying up earlier. The room is clean, the curtains are open, and it smells fresh in here.

“Sorry,” she apologizes. “I just wanted to check on you.”

“Why?”

Seems like I didn’t do as a good job of not letting my panic show as I think I did.

Her green eyes flick up to mine, and she shifts on her feet. “That guy grabbed you, and I was so intimidated by him. He had such a hard grip on my wrist. I didn’t like it at all. And you—”

“It’s fine,” I cut her off, though her doubt is visible the moment the words leave my mouth. She fixes me with herdon’t bullshit melook. It’s disarming, as it always has been, and I chuckle. “Fine,” I admit, running a hand through my hair. “It sent me into a spiral. But I called my therapist just now, and it helped a lot. It’s not as bad as I thought it would be, but… I think, and she agrees, it would be good to have someone around tonight.”

“I’d love to hang out with you.” Nova’s face softens, and her lips curve into a small smile. “Or I can go grab Sylus—”

“Trouble,” I interrupt. “If you give me the choice, it will always be you.”

Her cheeks flush a pink shade that matches the dress she’s still wearing. That dress has been driving me insane all night. She’s always been gorgeous, but tonight?

Fucking breathtaking.

“Okay.” She sits down on the bed, the velvet box resting on her lap. “I haven’t had a chance to change yet. I wanted to show you this first, but then I’ll grab some sweats, and we can watch a movie?”

“That sounds perfect,” I agree, nodding toward the box. “What do you have there?”

Her fingers trail over the velvet as her blush deepens. “You said you felt like you died eight years ago and that you missed me.”

I brush a strand of hair that’s fallen forward back behind her ear. “I missed you more than life.”

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