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Fucking run around the car and dive to get her in my arms.
Lilah trembles, taking a hitched breath against my neck.
“Killer princess,” I mumble into her hair. “No one can hurt you.”
“Just need…” She quivers.
“You can have anything. Take all the time you need.” I pat her back while Orion and I sandwich her in calming purrs.
Lilah gulps a few times, but the pulse racing in her throat finally starts to slow. I’m bracing for her to cut me loose the second she’s not freaking, so I have a mini coronary when she sighs, relaxing her cheek against my heart.
Trusting me.
Not all the way, not yet, but I’ll fucking take every inch and prove she can trust me with the next.
“You want to talk about that?” I ask when her breathing settles. Don’t want to press, but I need to know her triggers so I can stop them from bothering her again.
“Car.” Lilah shudders. “The back seat. The crash. Shit.” Her fingers wring my shirt. “I can’t fall apart over something that small.”
“Small?” Orion snorts. “You crashed a car and saved my fucking life.”
“It’s not every time,” she says in the tiniest voice. “I was fine when you took me to the police station.”
Lilah had five Wyverns throwing elbows to sit next to her on that drive. Must’ve subconsciously known she was safe.
I rock her, rubbing her back. “Can’t be helped. Gotta carry you.“
“No. We can take the car. I’m fine. Just felt out of control.” Lilah wiggles, and my heart breaks when I have to set her down.
Too soon. Too stubborn.
“Would you feel in control if you drove?” I ask, hella jealous when she grips Orion’s hand instead of mine.
Unfair omega advantage.
“No!” she jumps, eyes wide with horror. “I don’t even have a license.”
“You want one? I can help you practice.”
“You’d do that?” She tilts her head, all cute baby bird and it feels like she just pecked my soul.
Are my intentions not clear?
Shit. Gotta fix it, stat.
“Come here?” I offer my hand.
Orion gives her an encouraging nudge, finally playing for the team, and a sappy harp strums in the ether when Lilah Darling takes what I’m offering, setting her smooth, little fingers in my palm.
I pull her to the driver’s seat and slide it all the way back.
Then, before she can run, I pluck her into the car with me, settling her between my knees. Space is tight. The position puts her a little too close—both to the wheel and my aching fucking knot—but there’s nothing better than having Lilah’s trust.
She grips the wheel at eleven and one, knuckles white. I’ll let her go the second she twitches, but she stays with me, so I cover her hands with mine just how I’ve always wanted, stroking her knuckles until she relaxes.
Heaven.
When Orion climbs into the passenger seat, she lets out a breath.
