Page 445 of Once Upon a Fable

“Kas.” She looked up, her eyes glossy with sadness and understanding. “It’s okay.”

“He probably won’t agree with you.”

“Well, he shouldn’t have come in uninvited.”

“And I shouldn’t be such a fuckup that I tried to kill your only brother.”

She laughed under her breath, granting fresh pain but also dispersing some of the intense pressure in my chest. “We’ll get through this.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed me. “Together, remember?”

I shuddered.

How could she forgive me for this?

How could she forgive me for any of it?

Wrapping my arms around her again, I squeezed her so damn tight. “I’m yours, Gem. Every part of me. I’ll never stop trying to be better...for you.”

“Ah, Kas.” She hugged me back. “It’s okay. Itwillbe okay. You’ll see.”

“I love you.” I nuzzled her nose with mine. “I don’t think I’d be able to breathe again if I ever did something to make you hate me.”

“Lucky for you, that won’t happen.”

“But I almost murdered—”

“And we’ll put strategies in place to stop it from happening again.” She kissed me gently. “I love you too, Kas. And I welcomed you into my home, knowing how hard this might be...for both of us. If you’re not coping, tell me. And if I’m not coping, I’ll tell you. But regardless of how hard things get, it will get better. I know it will.”

My cock twitched with hunger. A hunger that didn’t come from lust but pure, unconditional love. I’d never wanted someone as much as I wanted Gemma. I’d never wanted to do anything,beanything just to ensure she was happy and safe.

My heart chose that moment to bind her to me. Not just for now. Not just temporary or permanently butforever.

Past life.

Past death.

She was it for me. I didn’t need more days or nights to know. I didn’t need to explore this new world and navigate a globe full of people.

Shewas my people.

The only person I ever needed.

And fuck, if that wasn’t the biggest, rawest acknowledgment of my life.

Wriggling out of my embrace, she smiled gently. “Well, I can say I don’t ever want that alarm clock again.” She stretched, revealing part of her stomach above the night shorts she wore.

My mouth went dry.

My cock went hard.

I glanced past her to her messy bed and debated pushing her inside to—

“Don’t you even dare.” She cracked a smile. “We need to fix this mess you made with my brother.”

My shoulders slouched. “I truly didn’t mean to hurt him.”

“I know.” Returning to her bedroom, she grabbed a matching gray robe and strode down the hallway. “Come on. Let’s get the introductions out of the way, shall we?”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN