“That you would only choose me because…” I couldn’t get the words out.
“Because I’m your mate.”
Pain stabbed my soul as a gasp escaped from my lips. “You knew?”
“Only afterwards. Kal informed me.”
“I told him not to. I told them all not to,” I growled.
Anger rolled through him like storm clouds. “What was your plan, Don? Are you telling me that you were going to let yourself die while I went home?”
“Yes.”
“Are you fucking kidding me, Dontilvynsan?” Vince shouted, slapping the water. It splashed me, and I looked away, unable to hide from his thoughts like I could from his eyes. “You were going to let me travel all the way to Earth when you needed me here? Didn’t you know I would stay for you? I love you, you… I don’t even have a word, that’s how frustrated I am!”
“Vince—”
“This is why your brothers hated me. They thought I was killing you. Did you think they would’ve held their peace? Let me get all the way to Earth, and not one of them would have told me? They would have, and then I would’ve come back, pissed. Fuck! I'm pissed now.”
I was unable to stay a word.
He took a deep breath. “I’m so furious right now.”
I kept my eyes down, so when he touched my chin, I started. Vince nudged my face up. Stars, I flinched from the heat in his gaze. “Tell me what was going through your thoughts, Don. Did you want to die? Is that it?”
“No,” I whispered. I didn’t.
“Then what?” Vince’s fingers refused to let me go.
“My happiness doesn’t matter. Yours does.”
Something broke in Vince. I could feel it, but I didn’t know what it was. Tears slid down his cheeks.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
He shook my chin, gentle despite how angry he was. Vince snarled, settling on my lap and fisting my hair, “Listen to me, Dontilvynsan. Your happiness matters. Of course it fucking matters. You think only your gift matters, and that is a lie. You matter.You. Do you understand me? You matter. And so does your happiness.”
Tears burned my eyes.
“You want me to be happy? Well, shocker, I want you to be happy too. Do noteversacrifice yourself like this again. Talk to me. Do you understand?”
“I understand,” I whispered, snuggling my mate, who in turn pressed against me like he was never going to leave my side again.
I held my mate close. Having Don tell me about his plan had made me so angry again, even though I already knew. It was… heartbreaking to realize how little he valued himself when I would literally give up everything for him. He was the most important person in my life.
Don nuzzled the top of my head in response.
God, I was furious still, but I held Don tight in my arms. We were lying on the rug I’d added to cover the wood floor in the living room, naked. After he’d confessed, part of me had wanted to leave so I could blow off steam, but that would’ve hurt Don more than my thoughts.
He had his arms and wings around me, his leg thrown over my hip, and his tail coiled around my calf. Don was trying to get as close as possible. I brushed my hand through his hair, and Don grunted. He knew how angry I was, and I was glad for once, he wasn’t sharing his thoughts with me. I didn’t want to feel his pain.
Taking a deep breath, I kissed his chest, so fucking relieved he was fine. What if he’d gotten worse while he was away from me? I couldn’t imagine him leaving me behind.
Don kissed the top of my head. “My apologies.”
“Stop,” I said, unable to keep the snap out of my voice.
He fell silent, and I felt like shit, but I didn’t need his apologies. I needed him to communicate with me so this never happened again.
