that, I’m sorry. If Tyr hadn't known of my interest in you then you wouldn't have been in danger. I put you in that position.”
"Orion.” I reached up between us and touched his face, securing my gaze to his and staring into his eyes for a second longer before I continued—just to make sure he was paying attention. “You are not responsible for your brother's actions. You are not Tyr.” His lips parted and before he could get out another word to oppose what I was saying, I reached up and silenced him by holding one of my hands over his mouth. “In fact,” I said, glaring at him meaningfully. “I'd say you're about as opposite from your brother as you could get. You care about others, you care about me, you care about how this war is affecting Fae kind. The only thing Tyr cares about is power. Nothing else.”
I took a breath, trying to calm the riotous anger that was blisteringly hot inside of me. “Do not equate yourself to him,” I ordered, “because you are so far above him, there’s no competition. You are brave and amazing and you mean more to me than you could possibly understand…” My words trailed off, and as they did, he reached up and gently tugged my hand away from his mouth before turning to place a kiss against my palm.
“Do you understand?” I wondered aloud.
He frowned but didn’t say anything for a long moment. Then, still holding my hand, he reached forward and pulled me onto his lap. “Understand what, Cress?” he whispered as I settled over him.
“How much I love you?" I asked. His brows shot up and his lips parted in surprise. I hadn’t exactly intended to blurt out the question, but there was no taking it back. So, I shored up my courage and sucked in a breath. I straightened my spine and met his gaze head on. “I do,” I stated. “I love you—and Roan.” When he didn’t immediately respond, I harrumphed and glared at him. “Well?” I pressed. “Are you going to say anything?”
He coughed out a laugh, shaking his head—the dark locks of his hair swiping back and forth with the movement. When Orion lifted his head once more to look at me, though, and I saw the blossoming smile spread across his face, my nerves settled. I breathed out a sigh of relief and loosened my hold that had dropped to his shoulders. I hadn’t even realized I’d been squeezing so tight.
“I love you, too,” he said. “More than life itself—I would die for you.”
My heart felt like it could soar right out of my chest. I swallowed roughly, blinking back tears. Why in the name of Coreliath was I on the verge of crying? What was wrong with me? I sniffed hard and forced them away. Happy. I was happy. This feeling was so incredibly intense that it swept through me and I found that my lips were twitching, a smile forming that could have rivaled Orion’s.
Orion's hands moved down and around my body until he pressed them against my spine, pulling me closer so that my breasts were smashed against his hard chest. His head came down and mine lifted. I knew what he wanted. His lips met mine and I shuddered as he consumed me. It wasn't the starving ravenous hunger we had for one another last night, but a reassurance that the bond between us was solid and unshakable. This kiss was a slow, leisurely exploration of each other, but at its core was a new tenderness, one that came from the depth of our bond.
The door down on the lower floor of Orion’s chambers rattled and was thrown open and Orion and I broke off the kiss. “Good morning!” Roan’s voice sounded from down below, followed by the thumping of his footsteps as he ascended the stairs and his head popped up over the garden’s railing before the rest of him followed. “Good to see you’re both still alive. I brought breakfast.”
He waved his hand as a contingent of pixies floated forward, carrying a couple of trays laden down with fruits and breads and cheese. “How’s the patient?” Roan asked, nodding between us as he swiped up a fruit and pulled a knife from his pocket, slicing it into chunks that he popped between his lips.
“Much better,” Orion grunted as he gently settled me off of his lap and to the side. I reached across him and grabbed