Page 64 of The Dragon's Perfect Omega
"Yeah." My mouth ran dry, but I made myself say the next words anyway. "Why aren't we trying that?"
Lowen put his fork down. "Is that really what you want?"
From the expression on his face, I couldn't tell whathewanted at all. It was really kind of unfair that I couldn'treadhim the way he could read me. Maybe I could, when we were bonded. If we were going to be bonded. "Am I asking too much?" After all, Adrian had said there was a greater risk on the dragon. Was it selfish of me to ask Lowen to sacrifice himself for me?
Of course it was.
This was stupid.
I was just about to take back my words, when Lowen spoke. "Don't think for a minute that I wouldn't do it." He sounded so serious that I didn't know how to respond, so I just stayed silent as he went on. "I would do anything, I wouldgiveanything, to save you. I love you, Zim, and I'm going to protect you any way that I can."
I stared at him. He'd never told me that he loved me before. I suppose it had been obvious in the way he acted, but still. Hearing the words spoken aloud was a different thing. By the look on his face, I could tell that he didn't think he'd just made a big confession or anything. He was only stating things that were facts to him. That was how much he loved me.
I was touched. All these years hiding my true self from the world, I'd kind of made peace with the fact that I'd never be in arealrelationship, that no one would ever love me for who I really was, and yet... Lowen saw more of me than any other person had ever seen, and he loved me. Truly. Sure, we hadn't known each other for long and we hadn't talked about every little event from our childhoods, but Lowen understood who I was and my struggles.
He saw me in full color.
I had to wipe the wetness from my eyes before it could turn into tears.
Stupid pregnancy hormones.
I wasnotnormally this sentimental.
"Zim? Is everything all right?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just... You know that I love you too, right?"
"Of course I know." He seemed confused as to why I was even bringing this up.
"I'm just..." I didn't even know how to say this. "I guess I'm wondering why you didn't tell me about the ritual when you seem so on board with it."
"That's because I'm not on board with it."
I narrowed my eyes at him, not understanding. "But—"
He sighed. “I hoped I wouldn’t have to tell you this, but I’ve had a vision. If I bind you to me now, you’ll survive, but…” He shook his head, so much sorrow in his eyes as he recalled what he’d seen.
I felt myself go pale. “The babies?”
“Only one of them would make it.”
My mouth fell open, but no words came out. That sort of future was not acceptable. I neededbothof my babies to be alive. I wasn’t going to settle for anything less.
"I would do anything for you," Lowen repeated. “But a bonding ritual is not the solution to our problem.”
“I’m sorry for bringing it up. I just hate to see you struggle, though," I told him. "Every day you hole yourself up in your room with these horrible visions. I don't know how you can stand it."
"It won't be long now," he assured me. "I'm getting close, I promise you. Soon we'll be able to leave all of this behind us."
"Promise?"
"I promise," he said, reaching out over the table to grasp my hand.
I tried to let his words comfort me.
What else could I do?
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