He loved her. He might not be able to say the word itself, yet the admission was there in everything he was describing. Still, she needed to hear more.
To be sure.
‘What did he say? Your brother?’
‘The day of that demon’s funeral—when I saw the blame and loathing on Dax’s face—my life changed. I thought I really was that monster that I saw whenever I looked in the mirror. But today I met with my brother...’
He tailed off, shaking his head as though he still couldn’t believe it, and Isla couldn’t hold herself back any more. She closed the remaining space between them, placing her hand on Nikhil’s chest and feeling the pounding of his heart. It slammed into her palm, the beat fusing with the one drumming through her own body.
Almost as one.
‘He didn’t blame you, did he?’ she asked, almost breathless.
‘No.’ Nikhil’s eyes shone with a light she didn’t think she’d ever seen before. ‘He blamed himself. He thought he should never have left me alone with that man.’
‘He was little more than a kid himself,’ Isla countered softly. ‘Seventeen, I think you said.’
The corners of Nikhil’s mouth pulled upwards as he reached out one hand to cup her cheek.
And, God help her, she couldn’t bring herself to pull away.
‘I know that, pyar. Do not fear, I do not blame him—at least, not any more. There have been enough recriminations and blame going around for too long. When the only one really to blame for it all has been long gone.’
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‘So, you and Dax have made your peace?’ she asked hesitantly.
‘We...are on our way to something like peace,’ corrected Nikhil. ‘Let us start with that, for now.’
Isla opened her mouth to answer, but the words didn’t come. They were locked in some chaotic mess. As relieved as a part of her was for Nikhil, another part of her was still trying to work out how all that came together to bring him to her door.
‘And this is your simple truth?’ she managed after what felt like an eternity, lifting her own hand to cover his.
Though whether to cup his hand or to remove it, she couldn’t quite be certain.
‘No.’ He shook his head, taking a final step to her and lifting his hand until he was cupping her jaw.
It was all she could do not to melt into it.
‘No, the simple truth, pyar, is that I love you.’
The words walloped through her, leaving her winded. Any response was impossible; too many emotions were swooping and tumbling through her.
Nikhil loved her.
Just as she loved him. It was so obvious to her now.
‘In fact,’ he continued, as if oblivious, ‘I think I’ve been falling in love with you ever since that first day on the quayside.’
Isla flushed instinctively. ‘Maybe not that first moment,’ she muttered awkwardly, but then Nikhil caught her upper arms, holding her tight and making her look at him.
‘Yes. That first moment.’ He nodded soberly. ‘When you told me to wind your neck in. I think a part of me knew, right there, that you were the one for me.’
Isla tried to answer. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. She loved him. It should be terrifying, but Nikhil was taking all her fears and turning them on their head. And she liked it.
Maybe too much.
Because there were still so many other hurdles they hadn’t even begun to overcome. How could she just pretend they didn’t exist? However much she wished that to be the case.