Wisp’s voice tore at his heart. The pain in it, the wavering, killed him. But he didn’t trust himself. Even though he wanted to be close, to be a comfort to them, he simply couldn’t make himself do it.

Monster.

The word echoed in his head.

Please don’t cry, Wisp. A soft murmur as he shifted, forcing himself to look at her. She was so beautiful. His wife. The better part of his soul. Seeing the healing scars across her body, the ones he had left, only made his chest ache worse.

Monster.

His jaw clenched, teeth grinding as he let out a slow breath. No… I suppose we can’t.

Did he want to talk about this? Get into the nitty gritty of it all? No. Absolutely fucking not. But she wasn’t a stranger. She was his partner. The mother of his children. That alone granted her more respect, more access, whether he liked it or not.

I… I’m sorry, Wisp. I’m trying. I really am. There was a softness to his tone, rare for a soldier so perpetually gruff. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I-I want to be close. To be the husband and father you all deserve. But the risk is too great. His voice dipped lower. I won’t survive maiming you again. And I would expect nothing less than to be slain on the spot if I ever bared my teeth to our little ones.

He trailed off, golden eyes flicking toward the window, where ice gripped the panes like a silent creature, slowly crawling its way into the warmth of his soul.