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Asher’s arms were constricting around me, but I nestled even further into his embrace. I knew my request had hurt him deeply, and I sought to rectify the situation.

Tilting my chin, I pressed light kisses to his jawline, down the slope of his throat, and back to his cheek.

“I love you,” I whispered. “I’m so sorry.”

“You’re not sorry if you’re still considering it,” he responded harshly, turning his head moments before my lips would’ve touched his. Instead, I kissed his clenched jaw.

“You have to understand-”

“I don’t fucking understand. I can’t live without you, do you get that? So I don’t want to hear this crap again.”

He sounded so angry, so livid, that tears sprung to my eyes. I knew why he was mad, of course. I would be furious too if the person I loved asked of me what I did of him. At the same time, I thought that he, of all people, would understand.

Instead, it was Declan who held my gaze and gave a subtle tilt of his head. I couldn’t tell for sure if it was agreement, but it was enough to cause hope to surge through me.

A freaking demented type of hope, but hope all the same.

“Asher, I know you wouldn’t hurt me, and I shouldn’t have asked that of you. I’m sorry. I’m just scared, okay? Terrified of what would happen when I’m back in those monsters’ hands-”

“That’s not going to happen,” he snapped, cutting me off.

“But I love you, and I can promise you that I’ll try my hardest to come back to you. Always. We’re forever, you and me. Me and them.”

I could feel the tension physically leaving him as his shoulders drooped. He desperately, helplessly, began to kiss my cheek, my neck, and finally my lips. It was a slow, languid kiss, but through every sensual stroke of his tongue, I could feel his love for me like a physical caress.

I wasn’t completely forgiven yet, but I was pretty damn close.

Our moment was interrupted by Ronan’s belligerent voice. Unlike Asher, he was still pissed at me.

“Guys...” he warned.

Twisting my head, I met a startling pair of narrowed green eyes and a malevolent smile that made the thin hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

One of the prisoners was awake.