His Wife, His Equal

Elias felt a tug in his chest, witnessing the tear-stained visage of Callie. With a reckless abandon, he bent down and claimed her lips with fervour. Salty tears mingled with the bittersweetness, turning the kiss into a poignant collision. ‘Callie, look at me.’ Elias tilted her chin gently, coaxing her gaze towards him. He wiped away her tears with his thumb. ‘It’s a treacherous terrain out there. Explosions and combat could erupt anytime. Lives could be lost in a heartbeat. Someone chatting with you one moment might breathe their last beside you the next. I can’t vouch for my safety, let alone yours.’ He wasn’t taking any chances, not when it came to his beloved. The thought of losing her was unfathomable; it’s why he dug in his heels, forbidding Callie from venturing to Kurtazagg, even if it meant wielding his authority like a weapon. Callie’s tears welled, yet she managed a smile. ‘Elias, who’s gonna have your back when you’re wounded? You’re tough, true, but you’re also flesh and b