Her eyes narrowed to tiny slits. “Don’t let’s be friends me. I invented that speech.”
“Keeley—”
“No! I knew you would try something like this. I knew it!” At least the fortress wasn’t trembling. “Well, I refuse your offer of friendship and your breakup. We’re staying together, and that’s final.”
The demon mewled with disappointment.
“You can’t refuse a breakup,” Torin thundered.
“I beg to differ. I just did.”
He had zero experience to draw on and no idea how to respond to her. He went with honesty. “Breaking up is for the best, princess.”
“You thought leaving me was for the best, too, but it wasn’t long before you were holding me in your arms as if you couldn’t bear to let me go. And do you know why you did that? Because you couldn’t freaking bear to let me go!”
“A mistake.” He scrubbed a hand down his face. “Obviously.”
“You don’t believe that.”
“I do. I really, really do.”
The color drained from her cheeks. “No. No!” She stomped her foot, the hem of the dress rippling. “You can’t keep doing this to me, warrior. You’re either in this relationship or you’re not. I’ll give you one more chance.”
Do it, say it. “I don’t need another chance. I ended things. You’re the one still fighting it.”
She drew in a heavy breath and squared her shoulders. “You’re right. It’s over then. We’re over.” No emotion from her, in word or deed. “You’ll stay in here, and I’ll move out.”
Where’s my relief? “There’s a room next door to this one.”
“I’ll be moving into a house of my own. In town.”
“Now hold on just a minute.” He wanted her here so that he would always know where she was and who she was with. So he could pop in and check on her anytime he wished—and shut the front door in the face of any male stupid enough to visit her.
She arched a brow at him, haughty, disdainful, every inch the queen. “Regretting your decision already, Torin? Well, too bad. It’s too late.” She walked to the closet, saying, “This time I’ve decided.”
How did she strip away his resolve with so few words? “You’re acting like I’m doing this simply to hurt you. Why can’t you see I’m picking your life over my happiness? That I will always pick your life.”
It was the truth, and the realization nearly drilled him into the carpet. He would pick her over anyone and anything—always. Keeley was it for him. The one he’d waited centuries to possess, not really knowing that’s what he was doing but seeing it now. There would be no one else for him. And even though Keeley would be better off if he took the “no one” route, he couldn’t do it—not again. Picking her life over his happiness destroyed her happiness, and that he couldn’t, wouldn’t do. Ever.
She’d been rejected all of her life. First by her parents. Then by her husband. Then by Hades. A barrel of whiskey? Torin would have paid the ultimate price: his life.
There were still a thousand reasons they should break up, and only one to stay together. But that one reason triumphed all others: she’s mine. I love her.
I do. I love her.
He could not reject her again.
He’d made a mistake. One he would rectify.
He moved in front of her and clasped her hands. Peering down at her, earnest and fighting desperation, he said, “I’m sorry I tried to break up with you. I’m sorry I told the others about the brimstone. I’m sorry for every time I made you sick. But if you can forgive me, and I’m begging you to forgive me, if you give me that chance you just promised me, and I’m begging you to give me that chance, I will stay and do my best to make you glad you did. Not because you can find my lost friends, or the box, but because I’m lost without you.”
At first she gave no reaction.
“Please, Keeley.”
Tears welled in her eyes, trickled down her cheeks.
His chest clenched as he wiped them away with a trembling finger. “Don’t do that, princess. I want to make you happy, not sad.”
“I am happy,” she said. “You broke me, but then you put me back together.”
A dangerous admission, revealing just how much power he had over her. But then, she owned him. All that he had was hers. “I know I’m a project in need of major work,” he said.
“Yes, but I like you anyway.”
“And you’re willing?”
“I am.”
Thank God. He drew her against his chest, let her feel the riotous beat of his heart. “Do you forgive me?”
She released a shuddering breath. “Yes. I do. But don’t hurt me again, Torin. Please.”
Another please.
He squeezed her tighter. He knew she’d meant don’t hurt me...emotionally, but he was who he was and part of him heard don’t hurt me...physically.
The only honest reply he could give her? “Your heart is safe with me.”
Now she squeezed him tighter. “Tell me a secret, then. Something no one else knows. Prove you’re serious about this. About me. Like for like, after all. You told your friends a secret about me.”
A secret... His friends had seen him at his best and at his worst and knew everything about him...except one thing. Something that made shame and guilt, as reliable of companions as Disease, prick at him. Telling Keeley wasn’t wise. But denying her when he was forced to deny her so much already wasn’t even an option.