Queen of Steel: Throne of Lies

Chapter 15 - Allistair's POV

The moment Tahlia stepped through the penthouse door, I could see the weariness weighing heavily on her beautiful features. Her shoulders sagged with the burdens she carried, and an ache settled deep in my chest.

To see the woman I loved in such anguish was like a blade twisting in my heart. Without a word, I gathered her trembling frame into my arms, holding her tightly against me.

"I've got you, Tally," I murmured into her hair. "You're safe now."

She melted into my embrace, her walls crumbling as the dam finally broke. Soft sobs wracked her body, punctuated by pauses to catch her breath as she relayed the night's unsettling events with Drago.

The mere mention of that vile snake's name made my blood boil. How dare he make threats against her? If he thought he could lay a finger on one of Tahlia's blonde tresses and escape unscathed, he was sorely mistaken. My blazing fury would incinerate him into oblivion before he could so much as blink.

Even in the midst of her breakdown, Tahlia's brilliant strategic mind was at work. Her bold gambit with Drago was as impressive as it was reckless. Pride swelled in my chest to see her cunning and determination on full display. She truly was the most incredible woman I had ever known.

"I will spend every breath in my body protecting you, cherishing you," I vowed fiercely. "You are my light, my reason for living. And I will burn this world to ashes before I let anyone harm you."

In that moment, tending to Tahlia's fragile state was my sole priority. I tightened my protective embrace, shielding her from the cruelties that threatened to consume us both. My thumb traced soothing circles over the silken fabric of her dress as I peppered tender kisses along her crown.

"Let it all out, my love. I'm here."

For long moments, we stood intertwined, her tears leaving damp trails against my chest. But I didn't mind bearing the sting of her sorrow – I would gladly shoulder a thousand times that pain if it meant easing her suffering, even for a moment.

Tahlia was the light in my life, the one pure, untarnished thing that remained in this world of darkness and deceit. And I would sacrifice everything, lay my very soul bare, to keep her radiance burning bright.

As her sobs subsided, she tilted her face up to me, eyes glistening. "I don't know what I'd do without you, Alli."

"You'll never have to find out," I said softly, cradling her cheek. "We're in this together, remember?"

She met my ferocity with her own blazing determination. "We'll face them together and win, no matter the cost."

Reverently, I traced the delicate curve of her mouth, committing every inch of her beauty to memory. As if sensing my thoughts, she kissed me purposefully, hands trailing delicious waves of desire through me. "I love you," I breathed against her lips, "more than the stars themselves."

She was my world, my everything – and I would burn the cosmos itself to ashes to keep her safe and happy.

As if sensing the direction of my thoughts, she kissed me softly yet decisively. Her hands traveled down my nape and chest, sending delicious waves of desire coursing through me. God, this woman had an infernal power to ignite my passion with the simplest touch. I gazed at her once more, lifting her chin to meet my ardent stare.

"I love you," I breathed, pouring every ounce of devotion into those three words. "More than the stars themselves."

"And I love you," she echoed, rising on her tiptoes to capture my lips in a searing, passionate kiss.

A soft, contented sigh escaped her as she nuzzled closer in the aftermath. In that moment, the shadows lifted, if only briefly. We had found solace in each other's arms, a refuge from the tempest that raged beyond these walls. When we finally parted, breathless and disheveled, I pressed my brow to hers.