Page 4 of Caged Love

“You look tired,” I say, lifting my knees against my chest and wrapping my arms around my thighs. “Are you getting enough sleep?”

A line forms between her brows. “You’re down here and worried about how I’m sleeping?”

I nod, swallowing hard. If only she knew. Ever since I found out she was my mate, all I’ve done is worry about her. I’m not a man who’s ever felt helpless. I do what I need to do. I adapt and am resilient. But I’ve never felt more out of control than knowing my mate hates me.

When I had her locked up in my bedroom in Chaos, yeah, it was fucked up.

But I felt better knowing she was there.

She was safe.

She was in my home.

And when Saylor set her free, I panicked.

But Saylor did the right thing.

Beauty like Milana’s should never be caged. She should be free, and I know deep in my gut that how I would love her would give her that freedom.

The freedom to be herself.

To be safe.

To be loved unconditionally.

To be protected.

“I’m fine,” she replies, stretching her neck from side to side. I know she’s what they call a booster. Basically, she can share magic by powering or draining. So she could suck the magic right out of me if she wanted to, or she could make me more powerful. I don’t know how long the effects would last. It would depend on how strong she is.

But I do know that after being around her, I could zip.

And I’ve never been able to zip.

I’ve never had enough magic for that skill.

I don’t know if she did that to me accidentally, or maybe she’s unaware, but I know it was her. Just that small little thing gave me so much fucking hope. It’s embarrassing because why would she do that if some tiny, minuscule part of her cared about me?

“I’m fine, August. I think right now you need to worry about yourself.”

Right.

I decide to answer her original question. “I grew up in a small village in Aravelle. My mother raised me. She died about six years ago while I was away. She was killed at the inn she worked at. A fight broke out and…”

I’d gone away for some mercenary work, and I’d taken Astrid with me.

I wish we had stayed.

I ended up killing the fae who hurt her, even though he claimed it was accidental.

How do you accidentally slit a woman’s throat?

If Astrid had been there, she could have saved her with her healing magic.

So manywhat-ifs.

I never told Astrid any of this, protecting her from the truth of my mom’s death. They were very close, and I couldn’t do that to her.

“I’m sorry,” Milana whispers, sounding sincere. “And your father?”

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