Page 62 of Light in Your Eyes

“No. I’m sorry, Kellan.”

“What the fuck, Jax?”

“I trained you martial arts so that you can protect yourself, but not there,” Jaxon said. “You can still train ourmembers here, in our house.”

“You’re kidding me.” I scoffed in disbelief. “And you will go there again and again? Knowing that you could have died yourself?”

I didn’t want to lose Jaxon. I wanted to be there too.

“It’s my responsibility as the leader there,” Jaxon said firmly.

“I’m also a king,” I hissed. “You fucking know that.”

“Here,”he said. “Not there.”

I grit my teeth, clenching my fists on my sides. “Don’t fucking do this to me. You won’t lose me. I promise.”

“I almost lost you,” he finally shouted, angrily. “And it was my fucking fault.”

“What?” My voice was barely a whisper. “You think the accident was your fault?” I asked in disbelief as I heard his footsteps.

He was walking away.

“Jaxon!”

And just like that, he left.

Layla

Kellan finishes his story with his chest heaving up and down. There’s so much longing and sorrow in his beautiful gray eyes. He must have missed Jaxon so much.

I can’t help but approach him. I climb onto the ring. “I understand what you feel.”

Kellan frowns, but before he can ask me any questions, I lean closer to him and wrap my arms around his body.

I’m hugging him.

Kellan is stiff for a moment, but then he relaxes and allows me to tighten my hold. This is the third time we hug.

The first time was when I just got my tattoo and he saved me from Luca.

The second time was when I had a nightmare, and he was trying to calm me down.

And now, the third time, I’m hugging him to make him feel better.

A smile forms on my lips as I feel Kellan’s arms wrapping around my body. He’s hugging me back.

After a moment, I pull slightly away so that I can stare at his face. Indeed, he looks less worry and more relaxed now. I sigh in relief.

“You know what?” I begin in a cheerful tone. “I think you should get more hugs. Hugging can increase our happiness.”

Kellan scoffs, but then the corner of his lips twitches, signaling that he’s quite amused by my words.

“I didn’t grow up in an environment that encourages hugging,” he mutters.

“I think that’s the problem,” I hum.

After we pull away, we climb down the boxing ring and sit on the ground. I hand Kellan his water, and he takes a large gulp of it.