#Chapter 405 – Balance Ella

“Dominic,” I murmur, reaching for him. “No,” he snaps, taking a step away from me and shaking his head. “You’re taking this too far, Ella – I know you want to help, but Icannot have you putting yourself at risk like this!” He sputters for a moment, turning away from me and hanging his head, bringing a hand up to cover his face.

I reach for him, seeking him through our bond, not understanding this reaction and needing to know –

He opens his heart to me when I gently ask him to through the bond. He lets me see all of his fear, all of his anxiety, all of the guilt that already rolls in him when he even thinksabout the possibility of losing Rafe and I when he could just keep usso safe-

And my heart breaks, for what feels like the eightieth time today, as I stare at my mate’s back, his broad shoulders.

“I’m so sorry, Dominic,” I whisper, closing the distance between us and wrapping my arms around his waist from behind, resting my head against his back, closing my eyes. “I hear you Ifeelyour fear for me. But I…I can’t not do this….”

“Ella,” he says, his voice cracking with the strain of his worry, of not understandingwhyI’m pushing this so hard-

But before he can continue, I let out a deep breath and pass him my own feelings down the bond and along with them, the memories I have from today. Of little Leah, and her sunken pale face, and how fresh her skin looked after I spent an hour holding her hand. And little Philip, who lost a hand, and whose wound was badly infected-

never grow that hand back, but who now will live, and be fitted

the memories of adozenother children who I helped – who needme, 1 who aren’tsafeunless I’m there to help

absolutely unthinkable

away from them. Ican’tdo it – not when I’m theonlyone who can help them like this. The only one who can

to fall down his cheeks. “All right, Ella,” he says, his voice gruff. But then he shakes his head at me, not giving in completely. “I see it now – I understand and…and you’re right, to hold you back from this would be to ask you to betray who you are. And who you are is the reason I love you. I

love and gratitude down our bond. Because I really am just so grateful to be with a man who understands who I really am, down to the

I whisper, agreeing to it freely because I know he’s already given in so much. It’s my term now. “Your terms, Dominic. Whatever you say.” “Damn right, whatever I say,” he snarls, a little playfully, and I grin up at him, loving it – loving him. And I raise myself on my toes, tilting my head back, hoping for a kiss –

murmur back, giving him a smart smack on his rear that makes him jump a little and then laugh. “Thought you’d be used to it by now.” “Yeah,” he sighs, letting me loose a bit. “Me too.” And then he starts a bit as I pull away further now, looking down at his crisp white shirt which is

“It’s really dirty at those camps,” I sigh, stepping away and crossing my fingers. “I’m sorry – was the shirt expensive? I didn’t mean to -” And then he laughs, giving me my own smack

saunter away from the door, “you like me filthy,” I call over my shoulder, “and you know it.” “Don’t listen to your mother,” Sinclair murmurs, pretending to cover Rafe’s ears. I laugh as I start to pass into the bathroom. ” We’re not done talking!” he calls after me. “Didn’t think we were!”

after I’ve showered and eaten the food that Sinclair ordered up for me, we’re finally settled in bed in the dark. Or, the near-dark as I

rests between us, babbling little nonsense words and grabbing his feet as he rolls around on his back. Why wouldn’t I want to stare at him

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