Page 61 of Blissful Devotion

I didn’t even realize I’d spoken aloud until Oliver’s question registers.

“We can make her love us again. She doesn’t have to remember us.” I keep my voice low so I don't wake her, but it’s impossible to hide my excitement at the thought.

“You think she won’t ever remember?” Alex pushes to stand, pacing the small room, acting much more like Father than himself.

“I don’t know if she will, but right now all we can do is work with what we’ve got, and she’s here.” I hold out an arm to the bed and wait until he stops pacing to look at her, his eyes instantly softening. “We can figure out the rest later, even if we have to start over. At least we can.”

Everyone’s faces are grim, and I can’t say I don’t get it. I hate that we even have to have this conversation, that she was gone and hurt on our watch, but we won’t ever let anything happen to her again.

Kat, Addy, and our son will never be in danger again. I’d rather die, and I know the others feel the same way.

Our son and our woman.

My eyes move over her slowly, soaking in her presence. I’d thought we lost her, but she’s here, and while it might be hard, I can stay away for a little while if that’s what she needs.

We’ll win her love again because there’s no world where I can live without her, not anymore.

“Let’s get home, and we can figure it out together.” Alex is out the door before any of us can even think to respond, but it’s all the same. I’d rather get her back home, anyway.

Two weeks.

After months without her, two weeks with her here shouldn’t feel so long, but having her look at us and see strangers hurt more than I thought possible.

I’d given up the bottle after last time, but damn if my fingers don’t itch for it. Craving something to chase the pain away, to numb me when her gaze cuts through me.

But I don’t want to be numb even if it’s painful; Kat’s worth it, she’s worth everything.

“Alex.”

Hearing her say my name makes my heart skip a beat before it takes off like it’s attempting to break free from my chest. I’ve spent most nights in her room, sitting in the armchair, sleeping here when I need to, unable to bring myself to leave unless it’s absolutely necessary. She doesn’t remember us enough for me to sleep in the bed with her, but this was a nice middle ground, something I think she only reluctantly allowed because it meant she wasn’t alone.

My eyes are heavy, having only drifted off a few times through the night, but when I look up, it’s impossible to miss the tears that well in her eyes a moment before they overflow and roll down her cheeks.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” I’m out of the chair and climbing into bed beside her before I can think it through. I only realize this might make her more uncomfortable after I’m already beside her, one arm wrapping around her waist to pull her close.

Crap.

Any doubt or worry is erased when she surges forward into my chest. Her sobs shake both of us, my shock allowing me to do little more than hold her while I bask in this moment.

I’d missed her when she was gone, but even having her here with us hasn’t been the same. No, I’d missed her even when she was only feet away.

My fingers itched to touch her, my heart crying out for the love it felt lost.

Every agonizing moment is worth it now, though. Having her back in my arms, it’s as if we were never apart. I know her, every curve and freckle.

Kat’s home; she is where I belong, where I was always meant to be.

“You came for me.”

Her choked sobs hit me like a physical blow, and tears of my own threaten to choke me.

I pull her close, lifting her head so I can peer into those beautiful green eyes I pray all our babies have and see the resignation in her gaze.

There’s no stopping the tears now, as they flow freely down my face, but I ignore them.

For the first time in months, my emotions are overwhelmingly good.

“We will always come for you, my love. There isn’t anywhere you can go that we won’t follow you, always.”