Page 193 of Forbidden Forget-Me-Not

Dimitri paused and glanced over his shoulder. For the first time tonight, he didn’t look like a general. He looked like a father.

She walked toward him, and he stepped down and waited.

Kaylani stopped in front of him and did something none of us expected. She wrapped her arms around him and held on tight.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

It was rare to see Dimitri show affection, but his hand lifted slowly and settled between her shoulder blades.

The moment was brief and controlled. But it was real.

Dimitri gave a single nod when she stepped back. Then he climbed the stairs.

He had made a choice that finally put his family first.

I was stunned. It had been so long since I had seen him do something like this that I was left speechless.

Nathaniel looked at me, the corner of his mouth turning up.

I pressed my fist to my heart.

When Dimitri reached the top, I stepped forward automatically, placing myself half a step in front of Kaylani.

Habit. Instinct. Protection. All things that would never change, no matter what happened to our public status.

She tipped her head up toward me. The adrenaline was finally draining from her body. Her shoulders sagged slightly as the jet engines hummed.

“It’s over,” she said softly.

“No.” I shook my head. “Not completely.”

She stepped closer, her hand sliding back into mine again.

“But it’s different now. Right?”

“Yes.”

Her chin lifted, and steel returned to her spine as she rolled her shoulders.

I reached up and brushed my thumb along her jaw. Even looking like she had crawled through a war zone, she was the most stunning woman I had ever known. My heart pounded hard, coming back to life now that she was safe.

“So, you survived without me.”

“Barely,” I admitted.

That earned a laugh before she gripped my arms, expression turning serious.

“How’s Atlas? Please tell me he is somewhere safe?”

“Nathaniel and I found a great place for him. I made sure he was settled before I ever left California.”

She sagged with relief. “Thank you.”

Everyone filed up the stairs, their boots loud against the metal. A reminder that we were not out of the woods yet.

“Let’s go.” Nathaniel’s voice carried down from the cabin. “We’re ready to roll.”

Kaylani squeezed my hand, and this time we climbed the steps together.