Page 71 of Bound By Love
“Saber…?”
He heard the yearning in his sister’s voice but couldn’t look at her. He’d vowed not to letherclose so he didn’t break her heart, and he’d failed.
Now, Brie would be the one to pay for it. His lips skimmed back when she tried to touch him as he bared his teeth. She didn’t seem fazed as her hand grazed his shoulder, but her mate was not so unshaken.
“Hey!” Asher shouted as he ripped Brie away and jumped between them.
Brie leapt to her feet and planted a hand on her mate’s chest. “Don’t!”
“You have to leave,” Ronan said as he stepped between them.
“But—” Brie started to protest.
“No, no matter what, it’s best if you’re not here.Go.”
Brie continued to try to protest, but Asher rested his hand on her shoulder and pulled her away. Nathan, Vicky, and Logan fell in behind them to ensure Brie didn’t try to return as Asher led her down the pile of rubble and toward the tunnel.
* * *
Once they reachedthe bottom of the pile, Brie planted her feet and refused to go further. She would not leave her brother behind to face this alone.
Being near him right now wasn’t a good idea; it would only cause problems between him and Asher, but she had to see him and offer her support. He’d run into a fire to try to save her, and now that he was burning in misery, she wouldn’t abandon him.
She may not have been in that fire anymore to save, but he’d still done it because he wasn’t going to leave her alone at the end. She wouldn’t leave him alone either.
“Stop it!” she snapped and pushed back against the others. “He’s my brother, and I’m not leaving him.”
“Brie—”
“I’m not leaving him, Asher.”
His face hardened for a minute before softening. He clasped her elbow and stepped aside so she could see Saber again. What she saw of him terrified her, but she didn’t look away.
CHAPTERFIFTY-NINE
Saber couldn’t breathe ashe lifted Caro’s head and settled it in his lap. Her ribs were crushed and ground together when he moved her, an arm flapped uselessly at her side, and one leg twisted at an unnatural angle.
His fingers trembled as he brushed her mahogany hair back from her face. She was so unmoving and so cold. Her lips were that awful, hideous blue color, and when he whispered her name, he didn’t get any response.
When they first met, when he spoke, she always showed some reaction, even if it was anger or disgust, it wassomething. And many times since they first met, she looked at him with annoyance, disbelief, and love.
He could easily recall each of those looks, but he never would have guessed they would lead to this…nothing.It should have been him lying here like this, not her.
She told him she loved him before the demons brought them here. He’d seen the truth of that love reflecting in her eyes and heard it in her voice. She’d loved him; there was no doubt.
And he was such a cold asshole, he hadn’t said anything in return. She loved him, he had no idea why, but she did. In return, he’d given her no such assurances.
This strong woman with a heart of gold and the courage of a lion was his mate, and he’d failed her oneverylevel. She loved him, and he was too broken to tell her that he loved her too, and he did.
He really did.
He didn’t know when it happened or how she managed to break through all his barriers, but he loved her so much, it fucking hurt.
While trying to dig his way out of the rubble, he’d been determined to destroy everything. Now, all he wanted was to see her eyes, hear her voice, and tell her that he loved her. Instead, her battered body lay limply in his arms.
He would have sold his soul or torn out his heart for those things.
“Caro.”
