Page 148 of Resurgent

"You can't say that," she whispers, tears rolling down my cheeks that I gently wipe away..

"My love, I need you to get this through that gorgeous mind of yours...I would kill for you. I'd go on the run to a foreign continent with you, or raze the kingdoms to the ground for you if you wanted to stay on this one."

"But Hunter—"

"I swear to the Gods, woman! You argue with me almost as fiercely as I argued with myself," I laugh as I slip two fingers beneath her chin, lifting her face until she has nowhere left to hide from my gaze and her eyes finally settle on mine.

Her mouth parts, no doubt preparing another protest, and I beat her to it.

"And before you tell me I underestimated you, or thought you didn't know your own mind..." I brush my thumb lightly along her jaw. "It was never that. It was because I knew exactly what I felt." The words settle between us before I force myself to finish. "I realized one day that I'd wait a lifetime if that's what you needed. I'd watch you choose everyone else before you ever chose me, and I'd still be there when you looked over your shoulder."

I can feel myself smiling like a damn fool, but that's what I've become.

"Because by then, Seiri...I was already in love with you."

Chapter forty-four

Annalise

The taxi smells like old leather and pine-scented cleaner, the radio murmuring low as we roll toward town. I keep my head tipped back against the seat, watching buildings blur past the window.

Sasha is holed up in her room, deep into a spell she warned me not to interrupt unless the building was actively on fire. Emily left early this morning, grinning like an idiot as she headed off to spend the full weekend with her boyfriend. Hunter obviously can’t be seen in public with me. And Matt—

Matt absolutely cannot know I’m going shopping.

I check my phone again, even though I already know the time. Plenty of room. Plenty of excuses. I’m only running errands. Normal, boring errands that definitely don’t involve buying him a birthday gift.

The taxi pulls to the curb downtown, and I step out into the late-morning bustle. Sunlight glints off shop windows, the street alive with people who look relaxed in a way I still don’t quite trust. I wander between stores, hands in my pockets, mentally cataloging ideas for Matt—things he’d never buy for himself, things that could barely begin to convey how much he means to me without being stupid and mushy.

While I've always gotten him something, I've never had a disposable income where I could afford to have something made specifically for him or get the latest model of whatever I find, like I can now.

I’m halfway down the block when my stomach drops.

Lucas.

He’s walking toward me from the opposite direction, taller and more muscular than I remember, though I haven’t seen him since before Matt kicked his ass. Since before I was attacked. My chest tightens, instinct screaming.

Nope.

I pivot sharply and duck into the nearest side street, heart hammering. He didn’t see me. Everything's fine. He won’t—

“Annalise!”

Too late.

I break into a near jog, but his footsteps close the distance faster than should be possible. His hand clamps around my arm, but I'm ripping free instantly, spinning on him, every nerve on fire, and every emotion simmering beneath my skin.

“Don’t touch me!”

Lucas freezes, both hands shooting up. “Sorry—shit! I shouldn’t have grabbed you. I only—” he swallows hard as his eyes take in my fighting stance. “I only want to talk.”

“Fuck off, Lucas.”

“Please, Annalise,” his voice softens to a level that I haven't heard since I broke up with him, “Please hear me out. I know I don't deserve it, but still, I'm selfishly asking.”

I'm almost impressed by the balls on him after all he's done.

"What do you want?" I snap.