Page 223 of Problematic

“You surrendered because you thought fighting would kill me.”

“Yes.”

“I came because losing you felt worse than being afraid of dying.”

His thumb moved along my cheek, stopping near the bruise without touching it. Rage stirred through the bond, dark and immediate.

“Don’t,” I said.

His gaze lifted.

“Don’t leave this room to find the people who hurt me. Those responsible are dead, arrested, or arguing with ghosts.”

“I know.”

“You’re thinking about murder. I can feel it.”

“I’m always thinking about murder.”

“Romantic.” I rolled my eyes and he laughed.

I moved closer, straddling one of his thighs with care, keeping my weight away from his injuries. His hands settled at my waist but stayed loose. His forehead rested against mine.

“I love you,” he said.

“I know.”

His brows drew together. I kissed the scar beneath his lip. “I love you too.”

The breath left him. His fingers tightened around my waist, stopping before the grip became possession. That restraint ran through me warmer than hunger. Lux watched me take off my bloodied dress and replace it with a shirt around my bruised body. The hem reached the tops of my thighs. The bond warmed with his attention.

In response he stripped off his torn, blood-soaked clothes and pulled me closer. His mouth brushed mine, gentle, almost asking. I answered by kissing him. His lips moved slowly over mine while his hands remained where I placed them, one at my waist, the other against my back.

The ward had finished what Scarn started. Whatever strength Lux had left after silver, the Hound, and taking back the tower was sitting in a failing circuit at Angelfall now. Mine felt scattered out there with it.

Vale knocked on the door from outside. “We have five minutes before the press conference starts.”

“Give us two minutes,” I called. “No one wants Lux on national TV without pants.”

Vale cleared his throat awkwardly outside. “I second the vote for pants.” His footsteps moved away.

My tail slipped loose from my thigh and curled around Lux’s leg. He smiled against my mouth.

“Don’t even think about it,” I whispered.

“I said nothing.”

“Your face said plenty.”

I kissed him harder to stop the sly smile forming on his face. His body gave beneath me by a fraction, exhaustion finally winning against stubbornness.

Vale’s five minutes were already dead. I got Lux as far as the bedroom and a clean shirt before his hand flattened against the dresser. I worked the buttons because his fingers had started shaking again.

“I could give you some power,” I said.

“No.”

My hand stopped.