Page 82 of Seared Fates

He pauses, chewing on his lip.

“I…I’ve always wanted kids, ya know.”

A smirk tugs at my lips. “I can certainly try to get you pregnant.”

He chuckles wetly, shaking his head. “What if I wanna getyoupregnant?”

I root to the spot, unsure what to say.

“Erm…” The image pops into my head, somehow making sense yet leaving me speechless. “I’m not so sure…”

He grins. “We’ll see. But…kids?”

Unshed tears glisten on his lashes, and unable to help myself, I kiss each one away. “We can adopt immortal children.”

“Really?” He sounds shocked, though I don’t know when I gave the impression I wouldn’t want to grow our family. “Even though you already have children? Who I want to meet, by the way. Oh, and you need to meet my parents and brothers.”

“Of course. Little prince, if you want something, it’s yours. And I love being a father, why else would I have so many annoying offspring?”

Kai’s face breaks into a big grin. “Really? Because I want a big family—”

I toss my head back, laughing. “Are you going to say you love me back anytime soon?”

Kai tilts his head to the side, thinking. Lips twitching up.

I growl playfully, grab hold of him and lay him flat on the bed.

He laughs, but it slowly dies. “Can I love without…my soul?”

I roll on top of him, our bodies pressed close. “Summer will help us, or she’ll find someone who can.”

Kai nods. Then his hand reaches for my face, stroking along my jaw. “I always knew I had a one true love, Vidar. When I saw you, it only confirmed that truth, like the clouds finally parting so I could see the top of mountains.”

I brush a kiss to him, hungry for the words. “Say it.”

He grins. “So demanding.”

My tongue flicks over the corner of his mouth. My hands run down to his hips. “You’re damn right I am.”

“Vidar?”

His hands in my hair, he tilts my head so our foreheads touch. Lavender, pencil shavings and…freedom. Kai.

“I love you.”

My heart swells to bursting, and this time, with Kai’s support, I’m able to hold its weight.

“And I love you, too. So very, very much.” I press my mouth to his, in a kiss hot enough to sear our fates.

Chapter thirty

Kai

I’m trying my hardest not to stare at Vidar like a love-sick idiot.

Yet when his hands run over my brand new scar, I can’t help but melt deeper into his mattress.

“I should’ve protected you,” Vidar murmurs.