Page 155

My thoughts raced.

A collision of understanding.

“Alaric?”

I swallowed, then lifted my gaze finding the concern in her eyes.

“Is everything okay?”

One nod. I couldn’t speak.

I slowly straightened, placed one plate in front of her. Her tea to one side. Her fruit to the other.

“Talk to me,” she murmured.

I forced a ghost of smile. “I’m steady. I’m okay.”

She gave a slow nod, but her eyes never left me and it was that act alone which shook me. I carried my own eggs and coffee to my seat and sat down. I tried to busy myself with the act of eating, but it was the slow earthquake inside that shook my world.

I stopped counting.

The distance from the kitchen.

The steps to the table.

The chair.

I hadn’t counted any of it.

My breath caught.

I looked at her.

And saw her.

She didn’t look away.

She held my gaze.

And for the first time…

I didn’t have to imagine what she was feeling.

Not fear.

Not hesitation.

Love.

Pure.

Fucking.

Love.

My throat tightened as the landscape of my world shifted in her eyes. I gave a slow nod. Not to the woman before me. But to the strength it’d taken to become her. She lowered her gaze, picked up her fork and speared her eggs. Even in her vulnerability she gave me grace, allowing me to gather myself.

I followed her, digging into the food and ate slowly.