Ren looked down, letting his eyelashes cast long shadows over his cheeks. He bit his lip just enough to make it look like he was trying to hold back tears.
"I'm just being realistic, Cilian. You've made me your world. If that world disappears, where does that leave me? Where does it leave Toby? He's just a boy. He can't defend himself."
Cilian let out a shaky, triumphant laugh. He felt a surge of power that had nothing to do with the Syndicate and everything to do with the fragile Omega standing before him.
He pulled Ren into a tight, suffocating embrace, burying his face in Ren's neck.
"I won't let that happen," Cilian promised, his voice vibrating against Ren's skin. "I've spent years building a kingdom so that you'd never have to feel a moment of fear again. But I see your point. You need to know that even if the world burns, you and Toby will be standing on the ashes."
