The Luna Queen's Rebirth (Ellie and Dominic) novel Chapter 532

Chapter 532

The room went silent.

I looked at Dominic. I saw the hurt in his eyes, the worry, the fear. Suddenly, the anger drained out of me. I felt my own shoulders sag with the realization, and then I was crossing the room, and he was opening his arms, and I was letting him pull me in. He smelled like whiskey as he drew me close, his breath tickling the top of my head.

“I lost you in a lifetime I can’t even remember,” he whispered. His hands came up to smooth over my hair, then reached for my face, cupping it and itlting it up so our gazes met. “I almost lost you so many more times in this one, and it just… terrifies me.”

I caught his wrists with my hands. “I know,” I whispered. “It terrifies me, too. More than I let on sometimes.” I took a breath. “But this isn’t okay. You made a promise to me–if we got back together, I would maintain my own agency. I could make my own decisions.”

He huffed out a small, strangled sound, but nodded. “I know. I know, Ellie. I wasn’t telling you you had to avoid the event. I just thought you might consider it.”

“Well, I’ve considered it. And I’m going.”

Dominic looked like a small, frightened part of him wanted to argue, but he didn’t. If he had any more thoughts on the matter, he kept them to himself. I appreciated that.

“Just… stay by my side tomorrow, then, alright?” he asked. “Don’t go anywhere near Monroe or his posse. I’ll have the guards keep a close eye on him, but I can’t guarantee perfection with all those guests in attendance. So promise me you won’t go near him.”

I smiled wryly. “Trust me, after everything that asshole has put us through, I wasn’t planning on pleasantries.’

“Typical.” Dominic snorted, some of the sparkle returning to his eyes. But then he paused, and his face turned just a little more serious. “Can I ask you something?”

I pulled away and sat on the edge of the bed, hands resting on my belly. “Shoot.”

Dominic was silent for a long moment. His mouth opened and closed a few times like whatever he wanted to say was on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn’t seem to get the words out. My brows lifted as I waited.

“About our relationship…” His eyes went to my face. Then my belly. Then, distantly, toward his nightstand, before returning to my face. “I don’t want to make you feel trapped. Never again.”

“Okay,” I said slowly. I tilted my head. “Why are you saying that?”

Another pause. His lips parted once, twice. Closed. He shook his head. “Nothing,” he said in that same tone he’d said it on the day of my ultrasound. “I’m just exhausted, and I had one too many whiskeys with Bastian. I’m not making much sense.”

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