Page 41 of Lords of Ruin: Cherished

I cradle her face, forcing her to meet my gaze. “This is one promise I intend to keep, no matter what it takes.”

The monitor beside us begins to beep more rapidly, reflecting her distress.

“Shh,” I soothe, stroking her hair. “You need to calm down before the nurses come.”

She buries her face against my neck, her tears warm against my skin. “Just stay tonight,” she pleads. “Give me tonight. I get discharged tomorrow and I don’t know when I will see you again.”

I know I shouldn’t. Every minute I stay puts her at greater risk. But the thought of letting her go—perhaps for the last time—is unbearable. If I have to lose her to keep her alive, I will do so. But a part of me, most of me, is connected to her. There is no Vincent Beaumont without Willow Carter. Losing her because I am too selfish to let her go would destroy me.

“Okay,” I relent, shifting to hold her more securely. “Tonight.”

She clings to me like I might disappear if she loosens her grip. Maybe she’s right.

I memorize the softness of her body, how perfectly she fits into me. Like she was always meant to be here, pressed against my chest, her breath a quiet whisper against my skin. My arms tighten around her, like if I just hold her close enough, I can stop time—freeze this moment and keep her safe in it forever.

Her scent wraps around me, vanilla and honey. I breathe her in, committing it to memory, because I don’t know if I’ll get to do this again.

Her fingers twitch against my ribs, a lazy, unconscious movement, and I press my lips to the top of her head. She hums sleepily, shifting deeper into me, her leg slipping between mine like she’s trying to tangle us together. Like she doesn’t want to let go either.

My throat tightens.

I’ve spent my life surrounded by wealth, power—everything a man could ever need. But this—this is the only thing I don’t think I could live without.

And it’s the one thing I might lose.

My hand trails along her chest, feeling the faint rise of her scars beneath the fabric of her nightgown. A reminder of what she’s already survived. Of how close I’ve come to losing her before.

I tighten my grip around her waist, as if I can shield her from a threat she doesn’t even know exists. My father thinks he can use her as leverage against me. That I’ll bend if he puts her life in his hands.

But he doesn’t understand.

If anything happens to her—if he so much as breathes in her direction—I won’t just destroy him. I’ll burn down everything he’s ever touched.

I press another kiss to her hair, letting my lips linger there.

"I love you," I whisper, barely audible over the hum of the night.

Willow shifts, her voice drowsy. “Mmm. Love you too.”

I stare at the ceiling, memorizing the feeling of her in my arms, knowing that when morning comes, I’ll be gone.

But for now, I’m here. And for now, that has to be enough.

13

WILLOW

Being back at the penthouse feels like home, but this time Cast won’t let me sleep alone, and there is no such thing asmyroom anymore. Everything is ours, as if Cast is afraid I will run away again.

I open my eyes to the soft glow of morning light filtering through the windows. Cast's arm draped possessively over my waist, his breath warm against the back of my neck. Being trapped like this should feel suffocating, but there's something oddly comforting about it too. A twisted sense of safety I never thought I'd find with him.

I try to move, but Cast's grip tightens instinctively. Even in sleep, he won't let me go. His curls brush against my shoulder as he pulls me closer, murmuring something unintelligible into my skin. The scent of his expensive cologne mingles with the faint traces of whiskey from last night.

"Where do you think you're going, Cariña?" His voice is rough with sleep. Those green eyes flutter open, watching me with an intensity that makes my stomach flip.

"Nowhere," I whisper.

Cast's lips curve into that signature smile – the one that's gotten him out of trouble and into everyone's good graces his entire life. Everyone except me. I know what lurks beneath that charming exterior. I've seen the darkness that flashes in those eyes when things don't go his way, witnessed the calculated cruelty he's capable of when crossed. I like that side of him way more than the charismatic mask he has for everyone else.

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