Page 32 of Witch’s Heart

“Right.” Silence stretched between us. “I guess this is the part where we talk?”

“Only if you’re ready and willing.”

I blinked, taken aback. He was giving me an option to retreat, which almost made me feel worse. I regretted that we’d avoided this conversation—that I’d avoided this conversation. If something had happened to me in the Citadel. If the witches had caught us⁠—

I sat bolt upright, a shock of fear making my heart race. “The witches! I⁠—”

“Don’t fret.” Rixon placed a hand on my arm, steady and warm. “No one is getting in or out of this city without my permission.”

“You blocked the gates?!” My lips parted. I leaned back and propped an elbow behind me, looking down at him.

He watched me lazily, reaching out to trace a pattern on my skin. “I had a word with the guards after putting you to bed, the ones you barked orders at when you raced inside?” He arched a knowing eyebrow.

“Oh, right. Those guards. I might have torn in through the city gates barking all sorts of death threats if they didn’t close up the city.”

“That’s my girl.” He huffed. “I stationed six units along the walls. But you’re going to have to give me an explanation.”

I blinked. “Right. Do you want my explanation first? Or my apology?”

His eyes darted over mine. His words were soft as he said, “You don’t owe me an apology, Mina.”

“Yes.” I blew out a breath. “Yes, I do.”

“I’m the one who made a big decision without consulting you.”

“I had no right to freeze you out like I did, then run away instead of face you.”

“You were processing.”

“Did you freeze me out and then run away when I decided to use a demon’s life source to save your life? When I made a monumental split decision that affected both of us without consulting you?”

“That was a life or death situation.”

“So was yours. The position your father put you in—you were just trying to find me and save me. You know better than I what your father was capable of. For all you knew, he was going to kill me. He certainly wanted to. You agreed to save me. I don’t think it’s any different than what I did. The only difference is how I behaved afterward. I should have been supporting you through your transition. Gods, I know how little you wanted the throne. You ran away and joined with the Citadel. You don’t like witches, and you did that rather than stay here and claim your birthright. So yes, I owe you an apology. For shutting you out. For failing to be supportive during your coronation. All of it. I’m sorry.”

“You were locked in a cell.”

“Still, I could have been supportive.”

He blew out a breath and turned his head, looking up at the ceiling. “Is it bad that I’m so fucking in love with you that I don’t even want, need, or care about your apology? I appreciate it, but…” He turned his head towards me again, our eyes locking. “All I want is for you to be mine and for everything to be okay between us. Nothing else matters to me.”

“So…I just wasted my breath?”

He growled, reaching for me, dragging me against him, tangling our limbs together until I was trapped. “I can think of several better uses for your mouth, but thank you—for apologizing.”

“You’re welcome. What uses do you have in mind?”

His low chuckle had my belly clenching. “Those will have to wait. You still owe me an explanation.”

My arousal fled.

“The Citadel has fallen.”

His muscles tensed beneath me. “And the head witch?”

“Dead.”

“Fuck,” he hissed, paling.