Page 211 of Filthy Royal

“No!” Damien shot up from the bed.

She tossed off the hide and followed right behind. “Alpha—”

“No.” Chest rising and falling fast, he pressed his palms to the wall. “No. There are other tests. Experimental meds.”

“Meds that don’t yet exist? Tests that will only show what the doc’s already told us? What my body already knows?” She placed a hand on his shoulder. “My gift is killing me, and I don’t know how to lock it away. I’m not strong enough to fight it.”

Fangs flashing, he whirled to face her. “You are!”

“I’m trying, baby. For you, I’m trying.” She cupped his jaw. “And I will keep doing that with every breath I have. I will never give up the fight. But—”

“No.” Locking his hands behind his neck, he shook his head. “No.”

He wrapped his arms around her and yanked her close. Sank to his knees.

“Everyone, clear the room.” Nikolai hustled the other two out.

Scarlett barely noticed, her hands cradling Damien’s jaw as she stared into the deepening shadows in his gaze. He looked… ripped apart from the inside out.

It destroyed her anew. “My love—”

“No,” he whispered. “You’re my colors. My light. Without you, there’s nothing left but gray.”

Her heart seized in her chest, but she forced herself to pull it together. “You need to accept this will happen at some point.”

“Stop fucking saying that.” Sheer panic glittered in his eyes. “It’s not too late. I’m going to do something. Fix this.”

It only made her love him more.

“I know you would if you could. You’re the strongest, fiercest Alpha there is. But sometimes, it’s not about fighting.”

“No.”

“Damien.”

“No. You fucking promised me always and forever.”

“I know.” She ran her fingers through his hair. “And I’ll do my best to keep that promise, but we don’t always get to choose what that forever and always looks like.”

“You will.”

Scarlett let him have his hope. She had her own agenda. “It’s your turn to promise me something.”

“Whatever you need.” He pressed his cheek to her belly. “Just stay with me.”

“I need you to promise that you won’t give up, even if I can’t keep my promise to you. That you won’t take that shuttle and head to the nearest sun.”

He stiffened.

“Damien…”

“Come back to bed, baby.” He shoved to his feet and swept her into his arms. “I know you’re tired.”

She was. “But—”

“Let me just hold you, okay?”

She could tell he’d shut down his emotions, his focus back on her, but she wasn’t sure how to reach him now, and truth be told, she was ready to be held. To curl into his warmth and commit to memory what it was like to be close to him while she still could.

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