‘I love you’
The words erupted from somewhere deep in my soul. Raw and desperate and completely unplanned.
“I love you, Sabi. I’ve loved you for years.”
Her mouth fell open.
“Every time I came to this city, it was for you. To make sure you were safe. Happy. My voice grew rough with emotion. I watched you from across coffee shops and restaurants, telling myself you’d chosen your own path.”
“Caelan-
“I told myself you were better off without me. Without the violence and politics that come with being queen. The confession poured out like blood from an open wound. “But seeing him hurt you… seeing him try to put his hands on you…”
“I would rather have you hate me than watch someone else destroy you.”
Sable stared at me with huge, disbelieving eyes. “You… what?”
“I love you.” I said it again, softer this time. “I’ve been in love with you since…well. That’s not important now.”
Her breathing became rapid and shallow. “That’s not… you can’t…”
“Why can’t 17
“Because you’re like my brother! The words came out strangled. “You’ve always been family! Safe!
The word sale belt like a slap across the face. fde. That’s what I been to her. A comfortable older brother figure. Someone who helped with homework and made her feel protected. hever man ever potential mate.
To we you base
“You might as well be! 1ean areased down her checks Do you have any idea how confused I am right now! First the mate bod, now tha? I cant hamile
“I can wait-
“Don’t. Please.” She laughed bitterly. “Caelan, my entire life just imploded! My boyfriend has been cheating on me. I found out I’m some kind of placeholder for his ex. And now you’re telling me you’ve been in love with me this whole time?”
“Yes.”
My simple honesty seemed to deflate her fury. She slumped back against the driver’s seat, looking exhausted.
“I can’t do this.” Her voice came out barely above a whisper. “I can’t handle loving someone again. Getting my heart broken again.”
Loving someone again.
Did that mean she could love me? Or just that she was afraid to try?
“I would never hurt you.”
“Everyone says that.” She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “And then they do it anyway.”
The elevator ride to our floor felt endless. We stood at opposite corners, both staring at the digital display showing our slow ascent.
Twenty-third floor. Twenty-fourth. Twenty-fifth.
I kept stealing glances at Sable’s profile. Her jaw was set in stubborn lines, but I could see the tremor in her hands.
She’s terrified.
Not of me physically. She was terrified of trusting someone with her heart again.
The elevator dinged softly as we reached the penthouse level.
Sable moved toward the suite’s entrance like she was walking to her execution. Her key card trembled as she held it to the sensor.
The door opened with a soft click.
“Sabi-
“Please don’t.’ She finally met my eyes. I just… I need time to think.”
1 watched her disappear into the master bedroom. The door closed with finality.
I stood in the middle of the suites living room, staring at that closed door
You fucked this up completely
Storm paced restlessly in my mind She’s our mate Why great we going after best
Because she asked for space.
Since when do kings ask permission?
Since always, when it comes to her.
1 sank onto the leather sofa and buried my face in my hands.
Three years of waiting for the perfect moment to tell her how I felt.
And I’d blown it all in a hospital parking garage.
An hour later, I knocked softly on her door.
“Sabi? I ordered lunch.”
Silence.
I’ll leave it on the counter.”
I heard movement inside, but she didn’t respond. The containers sat untouched for two hours before I finally put them in the refrigerator.
The afternoon crawled by. I handled pack business emails, reviewed territorial reports, anything to keep my hands busy. Every few minutes, my eyes drifted to that closed door.
At six, I tried again.
“Dinner’s here. That Italian place downtown.”
This time the door opened a crack. Sable’s amber eyes appeared in the gap, red-rimmed but determined.
Thank you.” Her voice came out hoarse. “Just… leave it outside.”
The door closed before I could respond.
I set the bag down and retreated to the living room. Twenty minutes later, I heard her door open briefly. The bag disappeared.
At least she was eating.
5 must have dozed off on the couch. The sound of distressed crying pulled me from uneasy sleep.
At first, I thought it was coming from outside. Then I realized it was much closer.
Sable’s voice, muffled by the bedroom door but clearly audible in the quiet suite.
“No that don’t leave me
My blood weat cold She was having a nightmare.
Mama I’m sorry so sorry…
The anguish in her we tore through my chest. I was on my feet before Id fully processed the decision.
She asked for space.
Another sub came through the door, this one row with pain.
Fuck space.
I turned the handle slowly, praying it wasn’t locked.
It wasn’t.
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