CHAPTER 49

“You never told me howyou found me here.”

After their ‘breakfast,’ Dariux had picked her up, marched to the bedroom, and deposited her back on the bed. She now lay snuggled in his arms. She doubted either of them would get any more sleep this morning, but it was pleasant to hug under the warmth of the covers.

“I arrived at the ruins after dark. I’m sorry I couldn’t come earlier. They delayed me with all sorts of questions and more tests. By the time I got there, it was late, and it had started drizzling. More bad weather was coming, so I figured if you had any sense, you wouldn’t be out on the ruins in those conditions.

“But I tried tracking you. I hoped you still would be close enough for my device to pick up the signal from yours. To my everlasting relief, it found you at once. And closer than I had imagined. I followed the signal here. Imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon this place that seems plucked out of a fairytale and discovered you were inside.” He chuckled. “What is this place, anyway?”

“My father built it for me when I was young. I’ve always liked to traipse around the ruins. They hold a weird fascination for me. He figured I could live here when I was older. That way I would have my independence but also be nearby.”

“Such a great idea. Your relationship with your parents has been so different from mine. I have no positive memories of my father. And my mother... She is just distant. She would have never thought to check on me like your mother did.”

“That can be a good thing. My mum, for all I love her, can be meddlesome.”

“I think she is great. Caring, but respectful of your personal space. I would love to meet her.” His lips twisted. “Under more decent circumstances, of course. I hope she won’t hold it against me that I barged in on her daughter and spent the night debauching her.”

Kalli laughed.

“Not at all. In fact, she invited us to drop by her house later. And she congratulated me on my good taste,” she added with a sly smile.

“Is that so?” he replied, far too pleased with himself.

“Indeed. I believe her exact words were that you were a hunk.”

He laughed, pleased and a little self-conscious. Kalli had never seen him so... soft. Relaxed. At ease. It made him appear younger and happier. She reached out and smoothed a lock of his hair that had fallen over his temple.

They were lying on their sides, facing each other, their legs entwined, their eyes scant inches from each other. And the tenderness she saw in those stormy gray eyes melted the fear. She also saw vulnerability. She wouldn’t have thought it possible. It made him almost unrecognizable, and yet so achingly familiar.

He had asked her to marry him. Twice. And she had evaded answering. Even though he had given her every reassurance. She was hurting him with what appeared to be hesitation on her part. She sensed he needed that answer.

But she couldn’t give it to him until she revealed her secret. A secret she had guarded with such zeal, not even her mum knew about it. A secret that could change everything. This was the moment. It was time to come clean. Would it make him change his mind? Anger him? Disappoint him? God, she hoped not, but regardless of the result, he deserved to know. She fiddled with the hair on his chest. Not daring to meet his gaze.

“I have something to confess.”

He stilled, holding his breath.

“You have asked me twice if I want to marry you.”

“Yes.”

“It’s not that I don’t want to. But there’s something you need to know first.”

His hand stole under her face and tenderly lifted her chin. He met her eyes, calm gray to skittish green.

“What is it?”

“Just remember that I didn’t do it on purpose, I swear. I wasn’t trying to take advantage of you or the situation. It was an honest mistake—”

“Kalli, out with it. You are killing me with the suspense.”

“I-I am pregnant,” she let out in a rush.

He was so still, so expressionless, that fear gripped her. Oh, this was not good. God only knew what he must be thinking.

“Say something please,” she begged.

“How? We took a test.” His voice was strained, but not furious. She breathed a little easier.

“The test was wrong. Maybe the medication I had taken when sick altered the results. Or the fact that the pregnancy was too new. I don’t know.”

“Are you sure?”

“Without a doubt. I took another test. I’m nine weeks along.”

He spelled a shuddering breath but said nothing else.

“Do you still want to marry me?” she asked, anxiety making her voice waver.

He grimaced, and her heart plummeted. Here it comes. The rejection. He would say she had tricked him, that he wasn’t ready. That he didn’t want to be a father. She closed her eyes and waited for the blow.