Page 90 of House of Soot

“I don’t know how you can look at me and not see the part I played.”

I look her in the eyes. “The moment I met you, you turned my world sideways because I kept having to tell myself you played a part. I always forgot because when I was with you, I was happy. I tried to deny it, but I couldn’t. So no, I don’t see you as anything but another victim of the Keans.” I suck in a breath because I feel like she might be mine again, except she hasn’t forgiven me. “But I know you look at me and you see the monster I was in the cellar… and the killer. I suppose that will never go away. Unless… you can forgive me.”

She sniffs. “I’m scared.”

Fuck. How do I fix that?

“I love you so much… but you hurt me.”

I nod, knowing that what I did was unforgivable.

“I want to believe you now. I really do.”

I swallow. “Give me the chance to prove to you that my love is true. No games. No manipulation. Just me spending my life showing you I love you and our child.”

Her fingers move to my chest, and I’m worried she’s going to shove me back.

Desperation fills me. “Please. The man you fell for under the tree… that is me, Jenna. I tried to deny it, but I couldn’t. What we started was real.”

Her fingers grip my shirt. “It feels real.”

“It is, baby. So real. Let me prove it to you.”

She sags into me, her head against my chest not far from my wound. It hurts like a mother fucker, but I don’t care. She’s in my arms, and I’m never going to let her go.

"Get a room, you two." Ash’s irritated voice breaks through the moment.

"We're in a room," I growl. "You're the ones interrupting."

“Come on, Ash. Let’s get out of here and figure out our next steps with O’Donnell.”

“I’m not marrying his daughter,” Ash says, following Phoenix to the door.

“What’s that about?” Jenna asks once they’re gone.

“I believe Ash might be engaged. But I don’t want to talk about him.” I look down on this beautiful woman and feel like I have a second chance to do everything right. “I want to make you happy, Jenna. What do you need?”

“Blaise Ifrinn.”

Hearing my name, my real name, does something to me. It’s like I feel seen for the first time since we left the fire to hide from our enemies.

“He’s yours. He has been since the moment he laid eyes on you.”

Her lips crash into mine, desperate and hungry, and I’m filled with relief. My hands slide into her hair as she presses closer, molding her body to mine.

"I missed you," she whispers against my mouth. "Even when I was angry, even when I thought I hated you, I missed you."

Something breaks inside me at her words. I trail kisses down her neck. "I missed you too. You're everything," I murmur, walking her backward down the hall to her room.

She shivers at my touch, arching into me as we fall onto the mattress together. I feel like I might be dreaming.

I lie over her, looking into her beautiful face. “What changed your mind about me?”

“Your brother Ash?—”

“Oh, hell. God, what did he say? I’m sorry if he was an asshole.”

She smiles up at me, her fingers brushing my hair from my brow. “He helped me see beyond my own pain. Helped me understand.” Her expression turns pained. “You lost so much because of me?—”