Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 147891 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 592(@250wpm)___ 493(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147891 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 592(@250wpm)___ 493(@300wpm)
“But none of it matters if I don’t have you.” I collect her hands in mine. “I don’t care about these material things, Willow. I don’t care about the castle, or being monarch, the fucking rubies or any of it. None of it will ever be enough to fill the void I have when I’m without you.”
Her eyes glisten as she holds my gaze.
“I want you, no matter where we are or what we do,” I continue. “I can work something out so that you and any children in the future are never harmed. I’ll beg the Regals if I must, ask them to protect you all from dangers. I’ll drop to my knees before them and give them all of me if it means you’re safe and happy. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to protect you, Willow. Yes, I know Vakeeli is a wicked place, but I won’t let the ugliness of it infect your golden heart. My child, whoever they may be, will never face the horrors I did. They will never be threatened. Never. Not while I live and breathe.”
A tear slips down her cheek. “You promise?”
“I promise you this now and forever, Willow Woman. Oi, look at me.” I press my fingers to her chin. “Now and forever. Do you understand?”
“I do.” She closes her arms around me, hugging me tight, and I sigh, leaning back and letting her rest against my body. I hold the side of her head, planting a kiss on her forehead. “I love you. I only ever want you to be happy.”
“I love you too. And I want the same for you,” she mumbles into my chest. “I’ll stay. I’ll be here with you.”
“You sure?”
“I am.” She yawns. “But promise you’ll find me a way to visit Faye—something that isn’t a one-way chant.”
“I promise you.”
She sighs, and it doesn’t take long for her to fall asleep. The side of her face nestles into my body, her breaths soft as they spill on my skin. I hold her close as I replay the conversation over again in my head.
She has every right to be afraid. Hell, I’m afraid at the mere mention of children. I suppose I should tell her that I never planned on having them. I didn’t want any of my own, and to continue the Blackwater monarch lineage, I’d have adopted a child and taught them everything. They wouldn’t be mine, but they’d be a good leader thanks to me, and that would be enough.
There’s something frightening about bringing my own child into this world, though. A person derived from my loins. I never wanted it because I know how dark my heart is, but with Willow, so much has changed.
What will she do when she realizes I’m not fit enough to be a father, and that, despite us being mates, I’m not worthy of such an intimate title?
I look down at her with an aching chest. I want to make her so happy. I want to be the man who gives her everything. But how can I be the man who gives it all to her, while also being the one who could cause her demise?
Chapter 88
WILLOW
A deafening scream fills the air, and my eyes pop open. The guesthouse has turned to absolute chaos as Caz shoots off the sofa and flies across the room while Danica shouts at Warren.
“Warren! Please, stop! It’s just me!” she shouts with her hands in front of her like she’s taming a wild animal. And perhaps she is. Because standing on the other side of the bed, holding a knife, is my brother. He’s fully alert, eyes wide, as he swings them from Danica to Caz while slashing the knife in the air.
“Easy,” Caz warns, one of his hands up too.
“Back up!” Warren barks. He breathes rapidly as I stagger to a stand. “Who is this man, Danica?”
Danica’s eyes shimmer from the sunlight. “You remember me?”
“Of course, I remember you.” The sun has made its appearance, just a blip over the horizon.
“That’s Caz,” Danica urges. “It’s okay. He’s been helping us.”
“Warren?” I step around Caz, focused on my brother. Caz notices how close I am to Warren and the knife and shifts in front of me. Warren finds my voice, and when he does, his eyes grow rounder, his brown irises glinting in the light. He lowers the knife, mouth ajar.
“This a dream,” he breathes. “No, a trick. It’s a trick. It’s a trick.”
“No.” I move forward. “It’s not. It’s me, Warren. It’s Willow. I’m here.”
The knife that was in his hand clatters to the floor, and he rushes my way, instantly crashing into me. It’s so fast, so sudden, that Caz has to take a quick step back while we embrace.
“Oh my God. Willow! It’s really you?” Warren gasps over my shoulder. He leans back, grabbing my face, looking me deep in the eyes. “Still beautiful and ugly at the same time.”