Page 52 of Captive Union
A flash of anger hits me. “You don’t have to like it.” At the bite in my words, Elena takes a step back. I inhale deeply. “Just understand that Erik makes me happy. He’s not a monster. I want us all to get along.”
“Maxim hates Erik too much,” Arina reminds me. “Kira, just let us help you.” She reaches out for me again.
I step away. “No. If you drag me out of here, you’ll be no better than Erik.” I can tell my words hurt by how they flinch, except for Elena, who’s looking at me like I’m a stranger. It hurts. I’m still her sister—just braver and bolder now. I’m no longer the wallflower she likely expected me to be. “Listen to me. I wanted to see you because I’ve missed you. That’s all.”
“Then you can come home,” Elena says.
“No. I need to go. Erik’s waiting for me.”
“So, he is here?”
Crap. I messed up.
“I need to go.” I start to walk away when Elena calls out for me.
I turn back as she approaches me, opening her arms. “At least one more hug.” I nod, letting her pull me back into her arms. I feel her body shift, but before I can question it, she pulls away. “I love you, Kira. Always remember that.”
My eyes sting with tears. “I love you, too.” I give Arina and Ana a nod before I head out the door and back into Erik’s car, where he’s waiting for me.
He immediately starts driving, back home.
“So?” he asks. “Was it everything you hoped for?”
I curl into my seat, resting my head on the window, feeling a bone-deep sadness enter me. “No, it was not.”
Erik doesn’t say more as he drives us home, back to the place where I feel like I actually belong.
CHAPTER16
Erik
Iknew it was a mistake to let Kira talk to her sister, but I did it anyway. I can’t seem to refuse her sad blue eyes when she opens them big and wide. Kira’s lucky I’m in love with her. I wouldn’t have caved for just anyone else.
And that’s the thing …
I admitted to her that I’m in love with her. And I don’t regret it. I felt good at the moment, and I stand by it. Unfortunately, Kira’s response was interrupted by her sister showing up.
And now, after we get home, Kira is keeping to herself, so there’s no chance for me to ask her now.
I give her space to work out how she’s feeling. I’m not sure how her meeting went with her sister, but judging from her expression, it wasn’t like she was hoping.
After spending some time in the greenhouse and collecting my thoughts, I finally go to Kira, who’s curled into a ball on our bed.
“Kira, are you all right?” I sit next to her, rubbing her arm.
She looks at me, and I see her cheeks are wet from crying. “It’s not how I wanted it to go.”
“What were you expecting?” I ask in my softest voice.
“I was expecting my sister to be happy to see me. And she was, but she wasn’t happy to hear that I’m happy with you.”
“Why would she be? She hasn’t been here to see us together. She doesn’t understand.”
Kira sits up, laying her head on my shoulder. “But how can I make her understand?”
“I don’t know,” I answer honestly. “She might never get it. But we know how we feel about each other. Let’s just focus on that.”
“You’re right. It’s just tough. I want my family in my life, but how can I when they won't ever accept you in it?”
