“Are you going to kill me now for speaking the truth?”
He doesn’t answer, but he doesn’t ease off me either.
“You tried everything you could to save my life. You went back to King Raphael’s domain even knowing it was dangerous to do so. I died last night, Karl.”
He whimpers and finally releases me.“I know. I felt it.”
I jump back onto my paws.“Ronan found me. He brought me back to life.”
Karl stares at me for several heartbeats before he finally speaks.“Did he… turn you?”
“Yes.”
“And you can walk in the sun still?”
“Obviously.”
He begins to pace in a jittery manner in front of me, looking at the hut from time to time. It’s killing Ronan to remain inside. I can feel his torment and apprehension swirling in my chest. I guess the connection between us goes both ways.
“Is that why you fucked him? Out of gratitude?”
Now it’s my turn to grimace.“That’s none of your business.”
I wait for him to yell back and say itishis damn business, because he’s the oldest and he’d be the alpha if we still had a pack.
“Cher… do you love him?”
Damn it. I wasn’t prepared for that question. I’d prefer it if he acted like an arrogant male. Shame washes over me. I look away, unable to withstand his probing stare.
“You do. That’s why you’re protecting him.”
“It doesn’t matter what I feel, Karl.”
“It does matter! He doesn’t deserve you. Like Manu doesn’t deserve me,”he adds, probably knowing that would have been my comeback.
“I know he doesn’t. But he did save me. He made sure you won’t lose me in a few decades. You won’t be alone.”
“Are you saying you’re not going to stay here with him?”
My heart lurches forward painfully. I didn’t have time to think that far ahead. Ronan never asked me to stay here either, but even if he had, I know what my answer would have been. It hasn’t changed.
“No, Karl. You’re the most important person in my life. My loyalty is to you, and it always will be.”
The aggression leaves his body, and for the first time, I understand now that he didn’t want to kill Ronan because of Manu. He wanted to kill Ronan because of me.
“Let’s go, then. I’m done with this place.”
He turns around and takes off. I spare a final glance at the hut. Ronan steps out, getting hit in part by the sun. It burns him, but he doesn’t seek cover. He wants me to see him. He must know what’s in my heart, and that this is the last time we’ll ever see each other.
My heart is breaking. I want to tell him that I love him despite everything. But if I shift now, I might not be able to leave. So I pivot and follow Karl to whatever end.
Fifteen
RONAN
ITALY, 1521
Pure and absolute agony washes over me, leveling me to the ground as I watch Cheryl make her decision. She chose to leave with her brother, which shouldn’t have come as a surprise. Her loyalty to Karl knows no bounds, and it’s one of the main reasons I love her so much. But it kills me that I couldn’t say to her all the things that have been in my heart for the past year. I never had the chance to tell her how much she means to me.
