Page 37 of Insurrection
Clearing her throat, she switched topics from whatever had been on her mind. "So, do you think they'll be upset at our departure? Introductions weren't over."
"Trust me, I think the introductions were absolutely over. Everyone else knew each other already, and they most definitely know who you are now," I joked, loving that she had been so openly herself, despite the fact that who she was, is exactly why she dealt with so much hate.
A hybrid.
She scoffed at my statement. "Yeah, I suppose they do." A flash of indecision crossed her face. "Do you think I made the wrong decision being so bold in there?"
It did something to me to have a woman as confident and strong-willed as Ama ask for my opinion of her actions. In my eyes, I didn’t think the woman could do anything wrong, but it still felt amazing that she asked. I was damn near positive that what I was feeling was completely unnatural, but it was an immovable force. Both unimaginable and unstoppable.
Reaching out, I put a finger under her chin and turned her face toward me. Her mouth parted as I did, and my thumb crept up to run across her plush lower lip as I answered her. "I don't think it's possible to make a wrong decision when you are staying true to you, Ama. Some simply fear that you don't fear them. It goes against everything the older generation has strived to build ever since the devil went to sleep."
Her pink tongue darted out to wet her lip on instinct, but it crossed over my finger, and my cock instantly began to harden. I didn't think it had been her intention, but damn did I suddenly want her tongue to stroke other areas.
Clearing my throat to hide a pained groan, I continued, "They rule through fear. If fear is suddenly absent, how do they control everyone?"
Her long lashes fluttered, and the warmth of her breath fanned across my thumb. Removing it, I dropped my hand to my side before I did something irrational like peel those tight leather pants down so I could taste her. Or bend her over the balcony and fuck her loud enough that the entire estate heard how good I could make her feel. That she was mine.
Lust and desire coursed through me in a blinding inferno, obscuring all rationalization.
Her eyebrows pinched together as she asked, "But didn't the devil appoint them as leaders of the houses? Surely, that gave them power to control their people without fear."
My own brows rose and my mouth ballooned with air as I considered how to tread with this answer. Blowing my breath out, I hedged, "My parents could get in a lot of trouble for this information getting out, and my family is the most important thing in this world to me. Know that I don't share this lightly and that I'm entrusting you to keep it to yourself."
Her lips thinned with determination and a glint entered her eyes, as if she was steeling herself for me to drop a bomb on her. She wasn't wrong.
She gave a small nod of understanding as encouragement for me to continue.
Looking back out into the sky, I admitted, "Some people in charge of their houses weren't always that way. Lucifer hand chose your Dad, my parents, Damien’s, and Colt's to lead. But the House of Sin and House of Runes leaders were not."
Her sharp intake of breath confirmed that her father had not filled her in on that. My parents had risked everything when they’d told my sister and me, but we kept nothing from each other. They’d told us if anything ever happened to them, to look to those two Houses because they were brutal strategists who killed for their position.
When I looked back at Ama, she appeared troubled, prompting me to ask, "What are you thinking?"
Her lips pursed as she shook her head. "Why wouldn't my dad tell me that? That sounds like vital information to know going into this. They're dangerous and bloodthirsty for power."
Ahh, so she had a close relationship with her father like I did with my own parents. The hurt in her voice was clear, and I knew I needed to offer a different perspective to shed some light.
"Don't think that way. He was protecting you by not telling you. The houses made a pact to not tell their subjects of the power struggles and deaths in those two Houses in particular. Our realm needed unity and peace, not the war that would have happened if the four true rulers had denied the two who had killed for their titles."
A small growl of frustration burst from her, and she threw her hands in the air as she exclaimed, "I'm not a child, though! I don't need to be coddled or kept in the dark for my own safety."
I had a feeling that this wasn’t the first time Ama had felt this way.
I kept my voice even and soft as I spoke, trying to calm her. "I trusted you enough to tell you, Ama. Don't let your agitation at who you didn't hear this information from overwhelm the fact that you are the only person outside of my sister and I who knows—other than the kings and queens."
The fight bled out of her instantly. Her shoulders sagged and she turned her doe eyes up to meet my gaze. "I'm sorry. My dad is just my best friend, and it hurts to think he would keep something from me."
The overwhelming need to comfort her had me pulling her softly into my embrace and wrapping my arms around her snugly. Her arms wrapped around me instantly, returning the gesture as she tucked her head into my lower chest and whispered, "You barely know me, yet you shared something that could hurt your family. Why is that?"
My hand began to trace circles on her back where her wings would have been as I chose to be honest and open with her. "I might have just met you, but my soul doesn't feel like we just met."
That felt like a heavy bomb to drop, but I respected the way she had been true to herself, and I would give her that same side of me in return. The true me. No walls.
Silence stretched between us, and I worried that maybe I had made the wrong move. Then, her arms tightened around me as she nuzzled into me and softly admitted, "I feel the same way. You feel like home. No judgement. Safety. Unwavering trust. But that's insane, isn't it?"
The smile that lit my face was so wide it hurt my cheeks, but I couldn't help it. My entire being felt like it was glowing. This was just right. Us.
"It is a bit insane,” I hedged, but then I exhaled, kissing the top of her head, “But damn does insanity feel good."
