Page 38 of Hopeless Sacrifice
“I was right.” Her statement pulls at my attention and I cock a brow at her.
“You were right?”
A knowing little smirk tips her lips.
“Yes, I knew you four could be grinding harmony together.”
Dax’s lips part as he exchanges a sly glance with Ryder. Darrio rolls his eyes at the two of them before settling lazily in the arm chair across from me.
“You were absolutely right, Lady Ivory.” Ryder gives her a charming smile until I shove hard at his arm. His shoulder bumps mine and I try not to smirk at him.
“What will you all do after the war?” Her gaze skims around the room at the four of us.
After the war.
That thought hasn’t crossed my mind at all.
Survival is all I’ve thought about really. I haven’t ventured more than two days into the future of my messy thoughts.
“What do you mean?” Dax asks as he leans against the arm of the couch near Lady Ivory.
The crackling of the warm fire is the only sound for a few moments.
“Will the three of you still take care of my niece when the real world settles in? When society’s judgmental gaze catches sight of your group relationship, will you still love her? Or is this just something to take your minds off of the reality that surrounds us?”
My stomach sinks at the honesty of her question.
Gods above, I hate how realistic her thoughts are right now.
Why haven’t I asked myself these questions?
Have I been in denial with even myself?
If I am in denial, it’s been a blissful little lie I’ve been living. Peaceful. Perfect even.
My life is perfect?I suppose it is perfect. It’s the world that is imperfect.
Isn’t it always?
“I’ve never really cared for society’s thoughts.” Darrio’s deep voice startles me. “I think I speak for us all when I say I want to keep Kara any way she’ll have me. Today and tomorrow. For as long as she’ll put up with me.” Darrio’s gaze is fixated on the warm white color at the center of the fire. It reflects a look of intensity in his eyes that makes my breath catch.
He wants to keep me?
For a moment, silence passes the time as I keep my gaze locked on the sincere look his eyes. Only the heavy pounding of my heart fills my thoughts.
“I’d hoped you’d say that.” Lady Ivory’s attention shifts to me with a small smile shining in her eyes. “I once had someone who cared for me every day of the week.” Her hands clasp together in her lap and she focuses her attention there. “It’s hard when realms rip you apart. In another life we could have been happy together. Never take happiness for granted. You don’t know how quickly time changes. How quickly it passes.” The quietness in her voice strikes against my heart and I slip my hand over hers.
Sometimes I forget how much older than me she is. She doesn’t look it, but she’s lived years of loneliness. She’s surrounded by a façade of love, but drowning in a reality of loneliness.
“I have some wine your father brought me for my birthday years ago.” Her statement is so different it confuses me. “We should drink it. I’ve been saving it for a special occasion.”
A beat passes and no one knows what to say.
No one but Dax it seems.
“And you think right now is a special occasion?”
My jaw clenches as my head turns slowly at his awful timing.
