Page 211 of The Call of Crimson
“They have to, little one,” Ayden says softly, trying to pull her back. “Elijah must be prepared for his last rites.”
“They can’t,” she sobs. “Elijah promised me forever.”
“He gave you his forever, Ophelia,” Ayden says softly. At his words, Ophelia goes lax, allowing Ayden to pull her away from Elijah’s body.
Cillian’s sorrow-filled gaze lingers on Ophelia for a brief moment before Darian quickly Travels the body back to the castle, leaving the rest of us to walk back.
Breyla says nothing as I stand with her in my arms, Ayden joining me, Ophelia in his. Together, we trek through the capital’s snow-covered streets as I try to figure out how the female in my arms is supposed to recover from this.
An answer never comes.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
BREYLA
Much like when my mother died, I see Elijah’s face every time I close my eyes. In the two days since Aurelius stopped his heart, I have not eaten, nor have I slept. The overwhelming sense of wrongness weighs on me. How I can feel so heavy when such an integral part of my soul has been ripped from me is beyond my understanding.
Anxiety churns in my gut as I think about what today is.
A soft knock at my door reveals Aurelius. I say nothing but let him enter my room. In his arms is a dress, a familiar one at that. It’s the dress from my mother’s funeral. The one that made me feel like I was wearing armor instead of a mourning gown. It was everything I needed at that moment and everything I would need today. I didn’t realize it had made the journey with us to Prudia.
“Where did you get that?” I ask, my voice hoarse.
“Elijah had it packed with your things. I simply located it for you,” he replies quietly, stepping inside and closing the door behind him.
“You mean you stole it from wherever your brother had it hidden.”
“Fuck my brother.” His words hold no venom, and silently, I wonder when that changed.
Aurelius lays the dress across the bed and pulls me into his arms. He presses a kiss to my hair, and I sigh, searching for any emotion, trying to find anything to feel aside from numb.
Tears well in my eyes, and I whisper, “I don’t think I can do this.”
“I know you can. But even if you can’t, even if you fall and shatter, I will be there to gather every broken piece.”
“But what if you can’t find them all? What if some are just… gone?”
“Then we will be beautifully broken together.”
We stand there, still and quiet, until I finally whisper the words I had uttered only once before, “I love you.”
He pulls back just enough to see my face, his eyes searching mine as he processes my words.
“You mean it?”
“I mean it,” I confirm. Technically, I had meant it the first time I said it, but I can understand why he would question it.
“Why now?” His hand brushes down my jaw, gently cupping my cheek.
“Because I don’t want the first time you hear that to be as you lay dying. I just thought you should know.”
Aurelius’ eyes flutter shut, a relieved breath escaping him, just before he takes my mouth in a kiss like no other. It’s tender yet scorching as he pours every emotion he’s feeling into it. I meet his passion with fire of my own, our tongues dancing, teeth clashing and nipping as we fight for control. Little does he know, I would give it all to him. The kiss is soul-searching, and as we break for breath at last, something deep inside my chest settles.
He rests his forehead against mine, his hand still caressing my jaw. His touch chases away the numbness for just a moment, and I relish in his warmth.
“It would seem we are finally on the same page, Princess.” He exhales a heavy breath, something relaxing in him for the first time in a very long time. “I love you. With everything I am, I love you. My brother can get fucked, because you are mine.” The last of his words comes out with a possessive growl.
“Yours,” I agree.
