Chapter 42

Keir

Lillian yanked her arm from my grasp once we got to the car.

"What the hell, Keir?" she yelled, slamming her fists against my chest. Her breathing was rapid, tears forming in her eyes. "You… you lied to me."

"I didn't lie to you, I just didn't tell—"

"That's the same fucking thing! I can't believe you." Her eyes were glassy, lips quivering. She shook her head and looked at me like I was a stranger. "You always fucking lie to me, and I've always given you the truth. All I ever wanted was…"

My heart was pounding, my ears ringing. "Was what? What do you want?" Whatever it was, whatever she wanted, I would get it for her. I'd give her the fucking world to make up for what I'd done.

"You…"

Nicholas and Aiden stood behind her, arms crossed, shaking their heads. They'd been the ones encouraging me to tell her, but I never could bring myself to do it. She wasn't meant to find out like this. I felt horrible about that, but the adrenaline of the moment was pumping through me, and it just felt right. I wanted the world to know she was mine .

It was just another item on my list of things I'd fucked up.

"I'm sorry," I spoke with all my heart. "I swear. I was going to tell you, but—"

"But nothing! There is no excuse for this. I thought you'd gotten past all the secrecy shit, Keir. I thought things were different. I thought… I thought we were different." The tears began to spill, and she turned to the twins, who pulled her into a hug between them. Nicholas planted kisses on her head while he murmured comforting things and Aiden stroked her back.

That's when I felt it. My chest grew painfully heavy. I couldn't breathe. Fuck . My chest hurt so badly. It was unlike anything I'd ever experienced before. I was sure someone had taken a blade and shoved it through my heart. I clutched my chest.

Hail Satan, I did this .

It was her heart. I'd broken it, and I couldn't believe she was still standing, given how painful it was for me.

"Lillian…" I forced out.

She turned in time to see me sink to my knees, her eyes red from crying, cheeks wet from the tears. "Keir?" Did she sound worried about me ? She left the comfort of the twins, dropping to her knees in front of me, cradling my face in her hands. "What's wrong, Keir?" She looked over me, as if checking for physical wounds, but she would never find what she was looking for.

"I'm so, so sorry," I admitted to her. My eyesight was blurring. I tried to blink the feeling away, but instead, tears fell, streaming down my cheeks. I was crying.

"Keir…" she whispered in the space between us, weeping with me.

She wrapped her arms around me, and then it was my turn to break. When I cried out, she just held me tighter. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her tightly, wanting to absorb her into my skin so I could never have to go without her ever again.

We wept together, sobs filling the alley we sat in, clinging to each other with everything we had. When I hugged her tighter, she reciprocated. I wasn't sure how much time passed, not sure how many tears had been shed at this point, only that the excruciating pain in my chest had subsided to a lesser burn. It filled me with hope.

I didn't want to, but I loosened my grip on her, pulling her away from me and holding her face in my hands. It hurt to see the pain I'd caused still wetting her face, but she was not actively crying anymore. I sat a few seconds longer, searching for any hint that we could be fixed, that it wasn't too late.

"Princess…" I kissed her forehead with a gentleness I didn't know I possessed. "I am sorry. I'm a stupid, stupid man. I should have told you, and I'm sorry I didn't." I grazed my thumb over her lips, and she inhaled sharply. "Please tell me I didn't fuck it all up. Tell me I can fix this. Tell me it's not too late. I'll do anything to make you smile again. I cannot bear to be without you, not now, not ever."

She swallowed, eyes on mine, but didn't say a word.

"You said you wanted me, Lillian, but I've always belonged to you. From the first time I saw you. My entire fucking being belongs to you. All of it. My head. My heart. Everything. I've always been yours."

She still didn't speak, and the feeling of wanting to cry returned.

"That's why I killed all those men who hurt you, princess. That's why I erased every man's memory of you," I finally admitted.

"You erased what? You never told me about that." She looked down.

"I couldn't stand the thought of another man thinking of you, of your body. So I found them, all of them, and made sure they'd never remember you." She didn't say anything, didn't look up. "Does that upset you?" I was afraid I'd fucked up there too, taking things too far.

She shook her head. "No… but… that must've taken… forever." Shame flooded her voice, which had not been my intention in bringing this up. I couldn't stop hurting her, even now, when I was trying to fix things.

"It doesn't matter how long it took, princess. What matters is no man but me and my brothers will know that perfect, little body of ours. All your curves and your perky tits. Your round ass and tight, wet cunt. Those soft, sweet lips—your huge, kind heart. The way your smile can turn the dimmest day into the brightest. The warmth of your hugs and the sound of your laughter. I want us to be the only ones getting all of that, no one else. You belong to us, every part of you, good and bad." She looked back up at me, and I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat. "I know it doesn't excuse things, but I was so afraid to hurt you, ruin you. I am so sorry I let my fear get in the way of what we had, and I will do everything I can to make sure it never happens again."

She looked like she was pondering something before she flashed me an upside-down smile and said, "I wish you would've told me." I started to agree with her, but she put her finger on my lips. "Is that why it was so intense?" I furrowed my brows. "The exchange."

I nodded. "Yeah, it is. It's also why we have a telepathic connection. It's more than just a bond for us. We are tied together forever, but in a way stronger than marriage or love. If one of us died, the other would basically be a shell. I should've told you; you probably didn't want this. I know it's a lot. If you want, we can try to find someone who can break—"

"Are you going to stop talking yourself into spirals and just ask me?" She was sporting a slightly bigger smile than before, finding something entertaining about the way I'd nervously rambled.

I forced out a chuckle, surprised at her response. I thought she would be enraged, and no doubt, I would deserve every harsh word she could throw my way.

"I need to do this the right way, princess," I said as I stood and helped her to her feet. Before she could say anything else, I sank back down onto one knee. She watched me with surprise. "Lillian…" Her eyes fluttered as tears, hopefully of joy, filled her eyes. "I am sorry I took your choice away, and I will never forgive myself for it, but will you accept our bond and be mine? Forever?" The sound of two throats being cleared out reminded me we still had an audience. "Ours forever?" I corrected before quietly adding, "But mostly mine," with a wink.

She smiled, and my heart felt like it was going to burst. "So I guess one night with me was enough to risk your father's wrath?" She giggled, and while I was a bit caught off guard by her words, I laughed with her.

I stood, unable to contain myself any longer, and pulled her body to mine. I held her back with one hand and cradled the back of her head with my other. I held her for what felt like forever, and when we pulled away, happiness was still evident on her face, and my chest was no longer burning.

"I love you, Lillian. I truly do, and I am so terribly sorr—"

She pressed a kiss to my lips, silencing me. "Stop apologizing. What you did was wrong, but I guess I can understand why you did it. I just wish I would've known. I wish I could've decided on my own, but we can't go back and change anything." I searched her eyes, expecting the other shoe to drop at any moment. "I would've said yes, you know. If you'd asked? I wouldn't have needed time to think about it. I would've happily accepted the bond, destined love and all." The lump returned to the back of my throat, but I swallowed it down. "I accept it now too."

My heart leaped, my head spun, and my knees grew weak all at once. "You do?"

She nodded, a bright smile spreading on her lips.

"Hail Satan, princess," I said before diving in to kiss her as if it was our last. I held her head in place with my hand, devouring her mouth like my final meal. I pushed my tongue past her lips to find hers greeting me eagerly. I tightened my hand in her hair, making her gasp, giving me even more room in her mouth.

By the time I pulled away, she was panting, and my cock was straining against my pants, wanting her more than I wanted to breathe air to live. I needed inside of her, now .

The twins were standing silently, watching the entire show.

I walked over to them. "Can you guys find a ride to the flat? I need to take her somewhere."

Aiden rolled his eyes, a sly smile forming on his face. "You're lucky you have groveling to do. Otherwise, I'd be taking her home and fucking her on every surface in the flat to teach you a lesson."

Nicholas chuckled at our brother then nodded at me. "We can get a ride. Bring her home safe. Don't stay out too late," he teased.

I turned back to see her standing several feet from us, smiling and waiting for me, and in that moment, I was the happiest man in Hell.