Page 76 of Dark Sold Mate

“Hey,” Silas said softly. “How are you feeling?”

“Like I got hit by a truck. But better than before.”

“Good. You need to eat something.”

Silas assisted Elle in sitting up with pillows behind her. He offered her water first and watched her take it slowly, and then offered her the soup Sara had brought up earlier.

“I’m not hungry,” Elle protested.

“You need to eat. You have not eaten anything since this morning.”

“Silas—”

“Please, Elle. For me.”

Elle sighed and took the bowl. She chewed slowly and finished half of the bowl before she put it aside.

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For taking care of me. For coming back.” Elle grabbed his hand.

“Of course I will. I always will. But I cannot help but feel worried. Elle, you were almost killed by that vision. And they are growing stronger, according to what you told me. What happens with the next one? What if it’s too much?”

“I don’t know. But we’ll figure it out. Together.”

“Together,” Silas agreed.

He pulled Elle to himself, and they lay there in a pleasant silence as the night was gathering around in total darkness outside.

“I love you.”

Silas’s heart skipped. “What?”

“I love you.” Elle tilted her head up and stared at him. “I don’t know when it happened. Perhaps it happened a long time ago, and I was too stubborn to realize it. But I love you.”

“Fuck,” he exhaled. “Say it again.”

Elle smiled, soft and genuine. “I love you, Silas Weston.”

Silas leaned down and kissed her, putting all his heart into it. Love, gratitude, devotion, and promise. When they separated, they both dragged in a lungful of air.

“I love you too,” Silas grinned. “More than anything. You’re my entire world, Elle.”

“Then promise me something.”

“Anything.”

“Swear to me that you will focus when you’re out there. That you will not take care of me and go get yourself killed out there. Because I can’t lose you, Silas.”

“You are not going to lose me. I’ll be careful. I’ll focus. I’ll come back to you every time.”

“Good.”

“Good.”

After a couple of minutes, they fell asleep, cuddled together, the bond stronger than ever. Even though he had been disappointed because they got to the auction site late and worried because of the intensity of Elle’s visions, Silas had hope.