Page 140 of To Ashes and Dust
“I was afraid that would change once you knew. When I began to regain my memories, I... All I could think about was the look on your face when you learned that we wouldn’t get that time together, that you would lose me again.” Tears welled in my eyes, my voice beginning to quiver. “I almost walked away so many times in the beginning. I nearly took you up on your offer to erase my memories, if only to spare you from what I knew was going to happen. No matter how many times I tried to reason with myself that it would be better if we went our separate ways, there was always something drawing me back, and now I know that it was my soul calling to yours. I’ve lived my entire life feeling incomplete, and I’ve never felt more whole than when I’m with you. I was afraid that would change.”
He remained silent, eyes burning into the floor as he absorbed my words.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I never meant for it to go on this long.” He drew a deep breath, running his fingers through his hair, and my stomach dipped. What was he thinking? “I can’t tell you how much it hurt to not tell you, to deal with it alone. You’re the first person in my life I’ve actuallywantedto tell.”
His gaze lifted to me, his brows rising.
“I didn’t want to feel alone anymore. I wanted... you to be there with me, to be at my side when I went to my checkup.”
His eyes softened, and he took my hand in his. The tears overflowed then, that single touch breaking me down. His thumb brushed tender strokes along my skin, and I never wanted it to end, I wanted to always feel his touch on my skin, his presence at my side.
“It was the day we erased my parents’ memory.” His thumb froze. “I thought of you the entire time, of Vincent, Zephyr, Thalia... Barrett.” My voice broke at his name. “I’ve lived more in these last four months than I have my entire life.”
“Were you going to turn me down?” he asked, and my brows furrowed. “When I asked if you’d be mated to me.”
“I wasn’t, but... I needed you to kno—”
“It changes nothing.”
My gaze shot to him, my chest swelling.
He spoke again, his words as sure as the earth beneath us, unyielding and unwavering. “No matter how little time we have left, I’d rather spend it together as a mated pair, as one. Nothing would ever change that.”
The tears spilled then, a sob breaking from my chest as I caved into him. His strong arm wrapped me in his warm embrace.
“I’m sorry you’ve dealt with this alone, that I couldn’t help you carry that burden,” he whispered into my ear.
“I’m so sorry I never told you. I’m so sorry.”
“Would you have me as your mate, Cassie Hites?”
I pulled away just enough to meet his gaze, the amber of his eyes bursting from the ashen gray. I laughed through the tears, butterflies fluttering in my chest at the sound of my full name on his lips.
“Yes,” I said, as he lifted his hand to brush away my tears.
“I want to hear you say it fully.”
“I would love nothing more than to have you as my mate, Damien Archonis.”
“Hey, Cas.”
I looked over my shoulder to see Zephyr’s warm smile as Calista helped him through the entry into the living room.
“Zephyr!” I pushed myself up from the couch awkwardly with one hand, my other arm resting in a sling. Damien cursed as I winced.
“You can’t just get up like that. Let me help you,” he said, jumping to his feet.
“Sorry. I got ahead of myself,” I said with a weak smile as Damien tried to help me without putting pressure on my ribs. He shook his head with a sigh, but smiled, helping me to my feet.
God, it was a relief to see his face. I hadn’t been able to see Zephyr after his surgery, and I was discharged before him, so I’d been desperate for him to be released. He was kept for observation at Johnson’s clinic for thirty-six hours after his surgery, and I’d been on bedrest, unable to leave the house. Calista released Zephyr as I slipped from Damien’s arm and Zephyr pulled me into a warm embrace.
I winced at the tenderness in my ribs, and Zephyr tensed. “Shit, sorry!”
“Don’t be, it’s okay,” I said, holding onto him, not allowing him to step back as tears dotted my eyes. It was such a relief to see his face, to hear his voice. I pulled back to look at him. His tanned skin had paled a bit, but I knew after a few feedings the color would return quickly. “How’re you feeling?”
“Sore, but I’ll pull through,” he assured me.
“Johnson managed to get all your guts back where they belong?” Damien joked.
