Page 91 of Bound By Blood

She looked up at him, alarmed by his solemn tone.

“Yes?”

“You know I’m in love with you.”

“Yes.” A thrill of excitement fluttered deep inside her.

“And you love me.”

She smiled. “Yes.”

He blew out a sigh. “I never thought I’d say this to anyone, but will you marry me?”

“Marry you?” She sat up, wondering if she looked as stunned as she felt.

Zack sat up, too. “I know your father won’t approve, but …”

“Oh, Zack!” She threw her arms around him. “Of course I’ll marry you!”

He grinned at her. “I thought you’d say no.”

“Why would you think that?”

He shrugged. “I’m an outsider. One of the Others. Your father hates me. I’m not sure about your mother.” He paused. “I can never give you children.”

“It doesn’t matter. Nothing matters, as long as you love me.”

“Never doubt it, Katy darlin’,” he murmured. Falling back on the bed, he carried her with him. Cupping her face in his hands, he kissed her long and slow and deep. He might have made love to her then, in spite of his vow not to defile her, but the decision was taken out of his hands when the bedroom door flew open and an angry father stormed into the room.

Kaitlyn bolted upright, her heart racing even as she told herself to calm down. She hadn’t done anything wrong. And even if she had, she was a big girl now, old enough to make her own decisions, her own mistakes. But all her inner arguments melted away in the face of her father’s fury.

Zack kissed Kaitlyn on the cheek, then gained his feet. “It’s customary to knock before entering someone’s bedroom.”

Drake snorted. “You are lucky I do not drive a stake into your black heart.”

“You can try.”

“Dad …”

“Keep out of this Kaitlyn Liliana,” her father said. “This is between me and Zack.”

“Why don’t you calm down?” Zack suggested. “She hasn’t done anything wrong. If you’ll notice, she’s fully dressed.”

A muscle twitched in Drake’s cheek. “I am grateful for your help last night, but I think you should leave here. Now.”

Kaitlyn leaped off the bed to stand beside Zack. “If he goes, so do I.”

“Am I missing something?” Elena asked, coming into the room.

Kaitlyn smiled at her mother. “Zack asked me to marry him, and I said yes.”

“You will not!” Drake roared.

“Yes, I will!” Kaitlyn replied, her tone as irate as his. “I don’t need your permission.”

All the anger seeped out of Drake’s expression. “Perhaps not,” he said quietly. “But what about my blessing?”

Kaitlyn’s shoulders sagged. Tears stung her eyes.

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