Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 124836 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 624(@200wpm)___ 499(@250wpm)___ 416(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124836 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 624(@200wpm)___ 499(@250wpm)___ 416(@300wpm)
In these next days, he would have to mourn their deaths while simultaneously grappling with the immense responsibility of ruling the East.
Even more. . .tomorrow, he would face the insane task of killing his own father.
The weight of it all seemed insurmountable.
Fucking impossible.
As the helicopter descended, I reached for Lei's hand. His fingers were cold. I held them gently, pouring all my love and strength into that simple touch.
I’m sorry, baby.
I longed to be his anchor.
To steady him.
To wash away all of his pain.
What else can I do?
Our hands remained intertwined, his fingers still and mine pulsing with life.
I’ve got your back, baby.
The helicopter’s hum shifted to a distant murmur as I focused on him and squeezed his hand. “I'm here.”
He slipped his gaze to me.
I swallowed. “I’m with you.”
His eyes—those deep pools of sorrow—softened just a fraction at my words. It was only a sliver of change, but it was enough.
Enough to tell me he’d heard me.
That he wasn't completely lost in his grief.
His voice was barely audible. “I know you’re with me, but. . .”
I quirked my brows. “But what?”
Lei hesitated for a few seconds. “I feel. . .guilty.”
“What do you feel guilty about?”
“Every time I lean on you. . .I feel like I’m placing the weight of my world on your shoulders.”
“You’re not.”
“Ever since we met, you've been my rock. It’s not fair to you.”
I tightened my grip on his hand. “You’ve been my rock too.”
“Yeah, but I’ve also been fucking up when it comes to you. I could have done more and now this. . .after you put in all that effort to be accepted by my people.”
“Lei, love isn't about fairness or keeping score. It's about sharing the burden, about being there for each other, especially when times are tough.”
He furrowed his brows. “But it feels like I'm taking too much from you.”
“You’re not.”
“I should be stronger; I should be able to handle this on my own. Instead, I keep turning to you, expecting you to hold me together.” He let out a long breath. “Here I am. . .needing you. . .so fucking bad. Needing to be alone with you. Needing to have your body next to mine. Needing your lips, the taste of your skin. . .to get my mind off of. . .”
“That's what love is. . .true love is being there for each other, no matter what. It’s about supporting each other through the darkest times and lifting each other up. You don’t have to carry everything alone, Lei. We’re in this together.”
“But what if I break you with my shit?” His voice cracked at the end.
I moved closer, resting my head against his shoulder. “You won't break me. Love makes us stronger, not weaker. By leaning on me, you’re allowing us to share the weight of everything.”
He remained silent.
“Lei. . .” I thought about the past days. “You’ve been my strength in ways you don’t even realize. . .you’ve changed my life.”
He closed his eyes. “I don’t deserve you.”
“You deserve me just as much as I deserve you and you don’t have to do this alone.” I wiped the tear away.
He opened his eyes. “This is why I handcuffed you to me.”
I blinked, shocked that he had changed the subject to that.
“I could feel this. . .warm unwavering love coming from you. . .and while I didn’t know what it was, I had to have it next to me. . .”
I gave him a sad smile. “And now there’s no need for any handcuffs because I’m going to always be with you.”
He watched me and this strange possessiveness flickered in his gaze. Those pupils darkened, becoming intense and almost burning me with its fierceness. “But. . .I wonder. . .”
“What do you wonder?”
“Do you truly understand how I feel about you?”
I didn’t know why this nervousness hit me, but it did. Our relationship was so damn new.
I swallowed. “You care about me and. . .love me.”
“That’s correct.” His hold on my hand tightened. “But. . .forever isn’t long enough for what I feel for you.”
I parted my lips.
“Forever would never be enough.” He lifted his hand to my face and his touch was feather-light, yet electric too. Pleasure rippled through me.
The love I saw reflected in his gaze was so damn profound it was almost terrifying.
“You’ve become my strength, Moni. . .my salvation. . .”
My heart skipped.
“And I truly meant what I said earlier, I don’t deserve you—”
“Lei, don’t say that—”
“I don’t.” He slipped his fingers down my cheek. “But that doesn’t mean I would let you go. I’m just being practical as I assess the situation.”
“Well, you’re assessing it wrong.”
He lowered his hand to my chin and held it. “You pushed through the ceremony, even though you were terrified.”
I bit my lip.
“The East didn’t see it.”
“You don’t think so?”
“I don’t. All the reporters and the camera people just looked. . .captivated with you.” To my shock, angry lines etched around his eyes. “My father saw it to and said. . .”