Chapter 84 Between Heartbeats
Sable's POV
Warmth.
That was the first thing I felt. Not the dull, feverish heat of poison, but something steady. The second thing was weight. Solid. Real. Pressed against my side.
For a second, I thought I was dreaming. Until I heard it.
A low breath, deep and even, brushing against the curve of my neck.
I blinked, my lashes fluttering against the morning light that spilled through the window. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust, for the blur to sharpen into the outline of him.
Kier.
He was lying next to me.
Not sitting in a chair, not standing guard, actually in the bed. His arm was draped across my waist, heavy and sure, his hand resting against my hip like his body had refused to let go even in sleep.
The mate bond thrummed where his skin touched mine.
My chest ached with something sharp and confusing.
I turned slowly, taking him in.
The man who had haunted every dream I’d tried not to have.
Even asleep, he looked impossibly composed. But there were traces of exhaustion beneath it. Shadows under his eyes. Lines etched deeper than I remembered. His hair was a mess, darker now, a few strands falling across his forehead. I had the sudden, stupid urge to brush them away.
Instead, I let my fingers hover, then lightly traced the edge of his jaw. The stubble there scraped my skin.
He stirred, lashes flickering open, silver-gray eyes locking onto mine. For one long, suspended moment, neither of us spoke.
“Morning,” he rasped, voice low and rough with sleep, "You checking me out".
“You’re in my bed,” I said, my voice betraying me with its softness.
His mouth curved slightly. “Last time I checked, this was my bed. But I'm not against you making it yours.”
My pulse jumped.
“I tried sleeping in the chair,” he said, tone lazy. “But the bed won. And I'm glad it did.”
I rolled my eyes, though my lips twitched. “You’re impossible.”
He smirked faintly. “And you’re in my bed. So I’d call that a double win for the bed of course.”
The silence that followed wasn’t awkward. It hummed. Warm. Dangerous. Every inch of air between us felt charged.
Then his voice softened. “You scared me, Sable.”
I blinked. “You? Scared?”
“Don’t sound so surprised.” He rubbed a hand over his face. “You were barely breathing when we got to you. I thought—” His voice caught. He swallowed it down. “I thought I’d lost you.”
Something in my chest cracked. I wanted to tell him I was okay, but that wasn’t true. I wasn’t okay. I was alive and that was all.
“I’m fine,” I said instead.
His eyes cut to mine. “You almost weren’t.”
I looked away. “But I am now. Thanks to you.”
He didn’t say anything, but the air shifted again. I could feel the weight of what he wasn’t saying.
And I knew where this was going before he even spoke.
“We need to talk,” he said quietly.
I stiffened. “About what?”
His jaw flexed. “About that night. The night you disappeared.”
My stomach twisted. “Kier—”
“No,” he said, sitting up slightly, resting his forearms on his knees. “You deserve to hear it from me. You saw enough to think the worst and I gave you every reason to.”
I closed my eyes. “Please don’t.”
“I made a mistake,” he said, voice heavy. “After you left the tower, after that fight… I lost it. Liora showed up. She took advantage, and I let her.”
My hands fisted in the sheets. “So you slept with her.”
“Yes.” The word came out like a blade dragged across stone. “But it wasn’t what you think.”
I laughed, short and sharp. “Oh, that’s good. Because what I think is that you lied to me about you and Liora.” My voice cracked. “Why lie to me Kier? You could
of told me. I would have been hurt but at least...”
"Sable!" He grabbed my shoulders cutting off my rant.
"I did not lie about me and Liora. There is nothing between us. I lost control and let my emotions get the best of me. What happened between us was a mistake one that I will forever regret because it hurt you the most."
“How do you mistakenly sleep with someone?” I asked bitterly.
“I wasn’t thinking about her. I was thinking about you.” Those words made me cringe.
"What are you saying kier?" I asked
His voice was low, rough. “I was drowning. And she exploited it.”
The shame in his eyes almost undid me.
Almost.
“But you let her,” I said quietly.
He froze, the truth landing between us like a blade.
“Yes,” he said. “I did.”
He swallowed hard. “But every thought in my head was you. Every instinct. Every ache. Every—” His voice faltered. “I wasn’t with her. I was lost in thought about you.”
My breath snagged. My wolf whined, confused and restless.
“Don’t,” I whispered, shaking my head. “Don’t try to make this ok.”
“I’m not.”
He reached out, slow enough to give me time to stop him.
I didn’t.
His fingers brushed mine warm and trembling.
“Sable,” he murmured, “I didn’t want her. I don’t want anyone but you.”
My chest tightened painfully. Anger and longing collided in my ribs.
“I can’t just forget it,” I said. “I felt everything through the bond. I felt it when you—”
My voice cracked. “Do you know what that did to me?”
He looked wrecked.
“Knowing I betrayed you that way shattered me more than I can explain.” He said barely above a whisper.
His confession hit like a fist. My lungs stuttered, my eyes burning hot.
I hated that my body leaned toward him wanting to comfort him.
Hated the bond pulsing louder, with every inch between us shrinking.
“I don’t know if I can trust you again,” I breathed.
“I know,” he said. “And I’m not asking for trust today.”
His forehead rested lightly against mine.
“I’m asking for a chance. Just one.”
My heart slammed against my ribs, too loud, too unguarded.
“I don’t know if I can run from this anymore. But I also don't know if I can do this after everything that has happened.”
“We’ll figure it out,” he said. “Together.”
His thumb brushed my cheek.
“Just don’t walk away before we try.”