Katie slips her hand into mine as our conversation shifts to Kayla and how surprisingly well she’s settling into life at the estate.
“She’s incredibly strong,” I tell her, watching her face. “Just like her sister.” Right on cue, color blooms across her cheeks, and she looks away with a shy smile.
After our plates are cleared and a quiet pause settles between us, I push my chair back and stand. My palms feel embarrassingly sweaty, my heartbeat loud enough to drown out the room.
“Katina,” I murmur to catch her attention.
And once I have it—once those pretty blue eyes are locked on mine—I drop to one knee, pulling out the ring box that’s been burning a hole in my pants pocket all evening.
The restaurant falls silent, and her hand flies to her mouth, her eyes going impossibly wide.
“Katherine Pierce,” I start, not caring who’s watching. The only person who matters is her. “You came into my world like a hurricane and blew my perfectly ordered life upside down. You challenged me, infuriated me, made me feel things I’d convinced myself I was incapable of feeling.”
I pause, swallowing hard against the emotion threatening to choke me.
“I don’t know how I lived before you, because now I can't even imagine a single day without you in it. You’re my air, my light, my entire fucking world.” I take a breath. “So put me out of my misery and marry me."
She lets out a stunned, slightly hysterical laugh, blinking rapidly. “Oh my God, Roan. It’s just like you to basicallycommandme to marry you.”
I smile as I flip the box open and hold it out to her. She inhales sharply, studying the ring. “It was my mother’s,” I say quietly. “And I’m sureAtëwould want you to have it. He adored you.”
“Oh, Roan…” Her voice wobbles. “Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Then, to my complete surprise and delight, she drops to her knees right in front of me—in the middle of this fancy restaurant—and kisses me like she never wants to stop. Her soft hands frame my face tenderly, and I can feel her smiling against my lips.
My chest rumbles with a pleased, possessive groan as I wrap my arms around her waist, using my grip on her to haul her closer against me.
The restaurant erupts into enthusiastic applause around us—I vaguely register clapping and a few cheers.
But it all fades into background noise, drowned out by my thundering heart and the sound of her breathing against my lips.
Nothing else exists except this moment. Except her.
My Katina.
Finally, officially mine.
EPILOGUE
ROAN
Elira arrives first. I knew she would. She’s been dying to meet Katie—the woman who somehow managed to steal my heavily guarded heart. But I kept her away, kept everyone away, so Katie could heal properly without the intrusion and without worrying about looking good for visitors. That changed yesterday when my sister learned about my proposal and decided that was reason enough for a dinner celebration tonight. I might have been able to hold her off on my own, but she’s devious. She recruited her friends to her cause.
Emily, Gia, and Leni have also been blowing up my phone, calling nonstop and talking over one another about how eager they are to meet Katie. Apparently, she’s become something of a myth or a legend in their social circles.
I couldn’t refuse when Katie herself admitted she was looking forward to meeting them all.
“You ready?” I ask my fiancée as I straighten my collar, my chest expanding with satisfaction.
She’s mine. Mine. Mine. Mine.
She lifts her gaze to meet mine through the vanity mirror, and my breath catches in my throat.I rub a hand over my chestunconsciously, trying to ease the tightness there as I watch her. I should probably be worried about just how intensely I feel for her.
Then her lips—painted a tempting red—curve into a small, weary smile. “As ready as I’ll ever be, I suppose.”
I cross the room, my eyes never leaving her reflection, until I’m standing right behind her chair. My hands settle on her shoulders, thumbs working gently into the tension there. Her head lolls back, resting against my stomach.
“You’ll be fine,” I murmur, more promise than reassurance. “They’re going to love you.”
