people pretending to be something they weren’t…” Dare trailed off not sure she really wanted to explain any further. Afraid of what she might hear from Balduen.
Balduen knew immediately what Dare was saying and more importantly what she wasn’t saying to him. Reaching over, he pulled her back into his lap and buried his nose in the crook of her neck, inhaling the unique scent that was all Dare. His mate. His love.
“You have every reason to be a little fearful of what you are learning. We all need to be wary. But we also need to trust in our own instincts. Do you love me Dare?” Balduen asked, surprising her. She didn’t expect him to go right for the heart of the issue.
“Yes, I do. I can’t explain it and don’t understand it. But I know my heart beats for you. That you are the love of my life. And I love our son.” Dare said honestly, lowering her eyes, so she wouldn’t have to look at him, afraid of what she might see in his eyes.
She didn’t think she could bear to find out that what she thought was his love was just another lie. And she was ashamed to admit that she was afraid.
Balduen was not going to allow Dare to hide from him. If he was to convince her that she had nothing to fear from him, then she needed to look at him. Really look at him. Sliding a gentle hand under her chin, he applied just enough pressure until she lifted her eyes to his.
“I have spent my whole life thinking that I would never find my mate. That I would be alone for all of my life. And then I saw you. And for the first time, I felt hope. When I looked into your eyes, I finally knew hope… and love. You are more than anything I could have ever hoped for, or wished for in my life.”
“Your courage is an inspiration to me, your love the mediband that has healed wounds I didn’t know I had. Although it was difficult to show when our every move was being watched, the need and desire to show that to you was there. And still is.”
“Do not let the situation and the danger we are in, cloud the truth of our feelings for one another. Give us a chance to learn and grow together.” Balduen said, his eyes never leaving hers, hoping she could see the love shining in them.
Dare’s eyes misted with tears, the next thing she knew was she was crying like a baby while Balduen stroked her back and held her close to his chest.
“Shhh, it’s going to be all right, my love. I promise.” Balduen murmured, gently rocking Dare in his arms to soothe her.
It took a few minutes, but Dare finally pulled herself together. Embarrassed that she fell apart so easily, she sighed. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have ever thought that way.”
“Nonsense, you had every right to feel that way. Don’t think for a moment that everyone else here isn’t feeling equal amounts of what you are feeling. Including your father and brother.” Balduen assured her, understanding why she had felt the way she did.
It was all a lot to take in. And he had no doubt that there would be many more revelations that would most likely cause more disbelief and shock. Not just for her, but them all. He just needed to make sure that she knew that he was there for her. That no matter what they found out, it would never impact the way he felt about her or their son.
“How can you be so calm about all this?” Dare asked, curious why he seemed so reasonable about everything going on while she felt like she was falling apart at the emotional seams.
“Well, I am not going through massive hormonal surges because I am carrying a precious little one. Scaden said that Cari went through these same episodes of crying and insecurity. It isn’t you, my love.”
“ It’s your body trying to make sure that you can give our son all the love, nutrition and emotional support, he needs to grow strong and happy.”
“I would not miss a single moment of this with you. Not your crying, shouting, anger… I don’t care. I want to share every part of this with you. I want to
Balduen knew immediately what Dare was saying and more importantly what she wasn’t saying to him. Reaching over, he pulled her back into his lap and buried his nose in the crook of her neck, inhaling the unique scent that was all Dare. His mate. His love.
“You have every reason to be a little fearful of what you are learning. We all need to be wary. But we also need to trust in our own instincts. Do you love me Dare?” Balduen asked, surprising her. She didn’t expect him to go right for the heart of the issue.
“Yes, I do. I can’t explain it and don’t understand it. But I know my heart beats for you. That you are the love of my life. And I love our son.” Dare said honestly, lowering her eyes, so she wouldn’t have to look at him, afraid of what she might see in his eyes.
She didn’t think she could bear to find out that what she thought was his love was just another lie. And she was ashamed to admit that she was afraid.
Balduen was not going to allow Dare to hide from him. If he was to convince her that she had nothing to fear from him, then she needed to look at him. Really look at him. Sliding a gentle hand under her chin, he applied just enough pressure until she lifted her eyes to his.
“I have spent my whole life thinking that I would never find my mate. That I would be alone for all of my life. And then I saw you. And for the first time, I felt hope. When I looked into your eyes, I finally knew hope… and love. You are more than anything I could have ever hoped for, or wished for in my life.”
“Your courage is an inspiration to me, your love the mediband that has healed wounds I didn’t know I had. Although it was difficult to show when our every move was being watched, the need and desire to show that to you was there. And still is.”
“Do not let the situation and the danger we are in, cloud the truth of our feelings for one another. Give us a chance to learn and grow together.” Balduen said, his eyes never leaving hers, hoping she could see the love shining in them.
Dare’s eyes misted with tears, the next thing she knew was she was crying like a baby while Balduen stroked her back and held her close to his chest.
“Shhh, it’s going to be all right, my love. I promise.” Balduen murmured, gently rocking Dare in his arms to soothe her.
It took a few minutes, but Dare finally pulled herself together. Embarrassed that she fell apart so easily, she sighed. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have ever thought that way.”
“Nonsense, you had every right to feel that way. Don’t think for a moment that everyone else here isn’t feeling equal amounts of what you are feeling. Including your father and brother.” Balduen assured her, understanding why she had felt the way she did.
It was all a lot to take in. And he had no doubt that there would be many more revelations that would most likely cause more disbelief and shock. Not just for her, but them all. He just needed to make sure that she knew that he was there for her. That no matter what they found out, it would never impact the way he felt about her or their son.
“How can you be so calm about all this?” Dare asked, curious why he seemed so reasonable about everything going on while she felt like she was falling apart at the emotional seams.
“Well, I am not going through massive hormonal surges because I am carrying a precious little one. Scaden said that Cari went through these same episodes of crying and insecurity. It isn’t you, my love.”
“ It’s your body trying to make sure that you can give our son all the love, nutrition and emotional support, he needs to grow strong and happy.”
“I would not miss a single moment of this with you. Not your crying, shouting, anger… I don’t care. I want to share every part of this with you. I want to
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