Page 125 of Savage Reign

He hugged me harder.

Together, we found euphoria.

27

MILA

Killian was gonefor one entire day and night.

Despite Sila and Maverick’s best attempts to distract me, it had only worked for a little while. I was still worried.

We were reaching mid-afternoon. Maverick and Silas were in Maverick’s office, getting on the phone with a man named Gregory Perez. I was trying to remember why that name sounded familiar, but at this moment, it took more energy than I had. I took in the beautiful garden of the Tiernans’ property. Even when I had been a captive here, this had been my favorite place. The book I had brought with me now lay face down on the concrete bench I was sitting on. I had planned on reading to distract myself from worry, but even that couldn’t hold my attention.

I was taking in all the colorful flowers nearby when I felt the solid form of another person sitting close to me.

I startled and looked up into dark brown eyes and a severe expression.

I didn’t say anything, even as my heart went into overdrive at the sight of him.

Killian.

He was finally back, and I didn’t know how to act with him.

It hadn’t been that long, but fuck, did I miss him.

His gaze focused on me, and I knew he wouldn’t say anything first.

So I started. But when I opened my mouth, nothing came out. I could feel the words lodged in my throat.

Then, “Where were you?”

That wasn’t what I wanted to say, but that was what came out. One of his eyebrows rose at the accusing note in my voice. I crossed my arms and glowered at him. I wasn’t going to take it back. He left without saying a word, and for a full twenty-four hours, I didn’t know where he was. Anything could have happened to him.

My bottom lip trembled, and his eyes widened, a sort of panic overtaking his expression. He no longer looked serious.

He wrapped his arms around me. “Fuck, baby. What’s wrong?”

“What’swrong?” I asked, pressing my hands down flat on his chest and pushing off a little. He didn’t let me get far. “You left.”

He closed his eyes briefly, then opened them and looked back at me, a tinge of regret in his dark irises. “Ah, firecracker, I’m sorry. There was something I needed to do. Needed to see.”

I shot him a questioning look.

He directed his gaze out to the garden, taking in the flowers. “I needed to see Lilliana.”

There was that name again.

I was beginning to really hate that name. I didn’t reply.

He let out a small sigh. “She was my first relationship.”

“You’ve been in a relationship before?”

He shot me a dark, amused look. “Yes, brat. I’ve been in a relationship before.”

I shook my head. “Sorry. It’s just… kind of hard to imagine.”

He laughed lightly. “Yeah? Well, you’re not that far off. She was the only relationship. Until you.”

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