Page 176 of Scarlet Wars
And then he had the audacity tosmileat me.
I stilled. Completely.
“You think this is funny?” I spoke in soft, lethal words.
“You think you can make mewatchyou die, and laugh about it?”
Caden took a step toward me, slowly, like I was something wild that might either attack or bolt, still not saying one word.
“You arenot invincible, Caden!” I spat, then hit him again with my fists once he was close enough. “You can’t throw yourself at danger and expect me to be fine with it. You can’t throw yourself on a fucking knife or catch a flying bullet and bleed to death to save me! You hear me? I will never befinewith that!”
The tears came fast, burning their way down my cheeks before I could even breathe.
“I can’t…” My voice cracked open, my lungs stuttering like they’d forgotten how to work. “I can’t survive that. I can’t…”Fuck. “I can’t fuckingloseyou.”
There it was.
Ugly. Terrifying. True enough to hollow me out.
I hated saying it. Hated how it ripped me apart. Hated how much it meant, how muchhemeant.
Caden reached for me then and pulled me back into his arms.
I didn’t fight him.
Didn’t shove, didn’t swear, didn’t run.
I justsank.
Collapsed into him like gravity finally won.
He held me—one arm banded tight around my back, one hand sliding into my hair—steadying me, holding me like letting go wasn’t an option he’d ever consider.
“You won’t,” he promised against my temple. “You’ll never have to survive that, because I’m not leaving you. Not by choice. Not by recklessness. Not even the damn gods can drag me away from you.”
Caden pulled back just enough to meet my eyes, and there was something fierce in them, something cold and resolute that almost scared me.
“But if the price for your life is mine… I will pay it. Every single fucking time.”
I shook my head, tears burning again. “That doesn’t work for me, Colt.”
“Well then, it’s a good thing it’s not your choice to make, is it?”
“Fine!” I snapped, fury reigniting in my chest. “You maddeningly stubborn beast of a man! But let me tell you something, if that choice is ever mine,Iwill chooseyourlife overmine. Now how does that feel?”
Then this gorgeous, maddening man exhaled, slow, rough, like he was trying to hold something back and failing. He leaned in, pressed his forehead to mine, eyes shut like the world was too much, and said, voice low and wrecked,
“Feels fucking incredible.”
His words landed like a blow, knocking the breath right out of me. For a second, neither of us moved, only breathing, barely touching, the air between us charged and trembling.
Then I tilted my head, just enough.
His nose brushed mine.
That was all it took.
Our lips crashed, hot, desperate, bruising. All teeth and want and months of unspoken things erupting at once.
