Page 117 of The Chains You Defy

Dion’s embrace was on the verge of crushing, and my own anxieties were spiraling, but I held myself together because he was falling apart, letting down his walls. For me.

After all those months of trying to catch a glimpse of what was hidden behind his facade, I couldn’t turn away now. Just because it made me uneasy to discover what existed beyond his fortifications didn’t mean I’d be so cruel and push him away.

“And this fear—my instincts have never been so intense before. Those tendencies for being—”

“Territorial. Possessive. Jealous. Impulsive. Suffocating. Feral. Obsessive. Savage. Predatory.” Finally, I’dfound my words again. “But also caring. Dedicated. Protecting. A wonderful friend,” I added gently, putting an emphasis on the last part, hoping he’d understand what I’d wanted to express.

“For you, it must seem as if I’m lacking trust. And yes, maybe I am. But Nayana, I’m not distrusting you; it’s everyone else. Fate, not to rip you from my side. My grandfather, with whatever he’s scheming. Every other male, not to claim you as their prize. And on top of the list, myself, since I could never let you go should you fall in love with someone else but me.”

Art by @smite.jake

My temporary ability to speak had disappeared once more as Dion released me from the vise of his embrace, and his hands slipped into mine. My brain blanked, and my breath caught in my lungs because in one moment, the prince stood before me, but in the next, he went down on one knee.

This wasn’t happening.

What if I simply refused to believe that the scene playing out in front of me was real?

Help?

But no matter how intensely I stared at him—the proud fae male, the crown princeof a damn world, someone who his people called Dark God in fear—the sight didn’t change. He was kneeling before me.

No, no, no, no, no.

Tugging at his hands didn’t help. I wasn’t even sure if he noticed my attempts to entice him into getting up again.

This wasn’t good. How could I prevent him from speaking?

One fact was evident. If I read his intentions right, the silencing technique he’d used on Samhain was absolutely out of the question—for obvious reasons.

And why was he smiling? His dimples were the last thing I needed on display now.

His thumb brushed over one of my hands, which he still held hostage, as he thwarted all my efforts to derail the situation and opened his mouth.

“Nayana. Just listen a little bit longer, for this is important. Doesn’t matter that I have no idea how to do this right. How to do anything right. But I’ll try, fine?”

Only the wind playing with my hair was to blame for any part of me moving since I was frozen, once more reduced to prey, in this never-ending circle between us.

“I promise never to hurt you. But we both are under no illusion about what my instincts and convictions demand from me. Whoever threatens what’s mine has to be eliminated. And whoever hurts you is in for worlds of pain and suffering.”

There it was again, the darkness surrounding Dion like a heavy blanket, and for a moment, I was suffocating under the responsibility he was giving me. He’d killed hundreds—thousands, if not more—without remorse when he had nothing. Shuddering, I failed to conjure enough imagination to envision what atrocities this malewould be able to commit once he’d found something worth living for—and I couldn’t fathom why he’d concluded that this something was me. Not only would the two of us become victims of his instincts—if I weren’t treading carefully enough, the worlds would be too.

“Even though it doesn’t seem like it from time to time, I’m aware of how you loathe when you’re restricted and of how much my behavior irritates you on a regular basis. But Nayana, this is the truth I’ve spent a long time figuring out. I don’t want to imprison you or put you in a tower far away. You’re much too precious for me to risk seeing you wither away. I want you to flourish, to live to the fullest, but as I’m a selfish bastard—your words, not mine—I want you to do all this together with me. And as you can see, I’m not above groveling at your feet if that’s what’s necessary for you to understand my point.”

Dion’s features were painted with such sincerity that tears, born from the intense atmosphere, crept into my eyes.

His confession that he’d given up on attempting to hide me away in safety unfurled one of my biggest fears. As much as I always pushed against the sentiment, I was under no illusion that if he really made up his mind to store me somewhere inaccessible, there would be nothing I could do to fight him.

But surely, this wasn’t the reason he was still kneeling, and although the wicked voices in my head told me exactly why he did so, my stubbornness clung to the hope that my demons were wrong. The ball of panic lodged in my insides like a boulder grew and grew the longer I was caught up in this situation.

Never had I wished for a distraction more than in this moment. Maybe an assassin trying for my life? Thatshould do the trick, right? But even though such an event wasn’t outside the realm of possibilities, I wasn’t so lucky.

“You’re everything to me, Nayana Garnet Ortha. The sun and the moon, the earth and the sky, every single star. The aurora in the firmament pales next to you. And in all honesty, I don’t care if I can never call anything else mine as long as you’re with me. I don’t need anyone else but you. Only you. You hold my heart, my existence, my soul until the sands of time stop flowing, and even then, I’d put my own life down for you before I allow you to leave my side. This I swear to you. And you have to know, as much as you are mine, I’m yours as well.”

“Dion, please get up.” He still clutched my hands, and since I couldn’t stand for very much longer that he made himself small in front of me, I tugged another time. He had to rise to his feet; he simply had to.

As if he sensed my frantic desperation, he allowed me to pull him up. With the steely determination he usually only wore before a battle, he took the chance to tuck me into his chest. My head rested on his muscles, and his heart was racing just as much as mine.

“Dion.” Running out of arguments I could feed myself, and which would support my denial that he wasn’t referring to more than friendship but something so much deeper, my heart not only matched his one’s pace but surpassed it. My chest was burning, not only emotionally but also physically.