Page 69 of Violet Moon

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“Surely it wouldn't come to that.”

“He’s made of tradition through and through and if you want to challenge any of that, you have to prove he needs to listen.”

“He will.”

“One way or another, he will.”Parisa sighed.“I’m so tired of fighting to prove what I am.I shouldn’t have to.I don’t want to.”

Sera held Parisa tighter.

“I thought I’d reached a point where I no longer had to and then all this happens with the duel,” Parisa continued.“I was naive to think so.”

“Times had changed.No one saw this coming.”

“I should have.Progress marches on, but some things never change.I can have all the pride and confidence I’ve earned, but to some I’m still an easy target because of who I am.”

Sera remembered Jason and the way he’d looked at Parisa and felt a growl rumbling up from her chest.

Parisa puffed out a laugh, patting Sera’s side.“There’s my Beta,” she whispered.“I don’t need you to defend me, but there’s something good about knowing you would.”

“Always.”

“I’m sorry I brought the mood down.”

“Don’t be.I’m glad you’re sharing this with me.”

Parisa curled an arm around Sera’s middle.“I haven’t had anyone else I trusted enough.And I’ve kept things from you, too, over the years.It’s all so tightly coiled up inside of me and I’m worried that the moment I share too much, it’ll all come pouring out and I’ll send you running.”

“You know I wouldn't leave.”

Parisa pressed her face closer to Sera’s chest.“I know,” she whispered.She tightened her grip around Sera.“Thank you for everything.I’m able to be who I am because I know you’re right there beside me.”

Sera felt a sting at the back of her eyes and blinked it away.“There’s nowhere else I could be — nowhere else I’d want to be.”She nuzzled her face in Parisa’s soft hair.

The silence that stretched on was filled with quiet comfort.Still, Sera searched her mind for other topics, things that would take Parisa’s mind off the duel.A jolt of excitement ran through her when she landed on one.“We should go somewhere together — properly.”

“You mean a date?”

Sera nodded, smile stretching wide.

Parisa sat up and took both of Sera’s hands in hers.Their gazes locked as she smiled.“Seraphine, would you like to go on a date with me?”

“Definitely yes.”Sera’s heart fluttered in her chest.

Parisa paused, a contemplative look on her face.“Do you wonder now about how many of our other outings were dates?”

“Not until you just said it.”

“I think we’ve been dating for some time,eshgham.”

Sera groaned, burying her face into the pillow.“How did I never notice?”

“I didn’t either.I never dared to hope for anything like this.Now that you’re here, I can’t believe how lucky I am.”

Sera lifted her face enough to see Parisa.“I’m going to melt if you keep talking like that.”

“Then I guess I’ll have to.”

“Pari,” Sera whined, feeling her cheeks get hotter.