Page 128 of Brutal Birthright

The thud of his heart as it battered against his rib cage was deafening. Only growing more erratic and pumping wilder the closer he got to the edge of the stage.

She must have realised something was going on, as everyone on the raised platform turned towards him at once. And one by one, everyone’s expressions morphed into a thousand different variations of shock.

Niall was halfway to grabbing Ruby by the arm, ready to whisk her away to safety, when he stopped dead and stared as if he’d never seen his own brother’s face before.

Belle had both hands covering her mouth. Eyes bulging wider by the second.

Lachie had drawn both swords from his twin holsters, then frozen in front of her.

Behind all of them, the dignitaries from across the various realms wore a thousand shades of utter confusion as they watched him prowl forward.

But he barely gave them a second glance, keeping his gaze firmly focused on his every reason for fucking living and breathing.

As he hurdled the edge of the stage, she dropped her scroll and medal.

Oriana’s gaze bounced all over him. Dark liquid eyes took in his appearance.

Her perfect pink lips hung open in a small O shape, and she shook her head silently.

He furrowed his brow. Why was she stepping backwards? A torrent of panic and confusion and bewilderment flashing across her face. That wasn’t going to be happening.

“No. It can’t—You’re…” she barely uttered the word before he pounced on her.

It can. It will be.

This girl needed to understand he would never leave her.

Scooping her up against him, Rowan took her mouth as his arms wrapped around her so tight he had every intention of staying that way forever if that’s what it took to have her realise he was truly here.

She froze beneath him. He could feel the shock rippling through her and refusing to let go.

But he couldn’t stop. Slowly caressing her mouth with his own, lovingly stroking her and coaxing her to soften for him with each brush of his lips and soft caress of his tongue. He cradled her head with both hands and cupped her jaw.

He poured every emotion into that kiss. It was soft and raw and desperate. Exactly the way he felt when it came to this girl.

Drawing back with a heaving chest, he rested their foreheads together.

“I’m going crazy. Tell me I’m dreaming.” Her voice cracked, and tears streamed down the soft swell of her cheek. Her tiny hands gripped his wrists, and each finger flexed against him. Rowan couldn’t fucking stand that she was crying. “This can’t be… Is this real?”

He brushed a thumb over each side of her face. Wiping away the wetness gathered there.

“Feel this.” He shifted her fingers over his heart that raced to escape his chest.

She’d better fucking believe it this was real.

“No. I’ve wished for this for so long.” She’d screwed her eyes shut now. Shaking her head she pushed him away. Or attempted to, at least.

Rowan let out a low growl. He wasn’t going to move an inch.

“Rowan…” Behind him he could hear Ruby sounding like she was begging with him. A desperate sadness in her voice that made his jaw clench.

As he looked down at the beautiful girl before him, he felt an overwhelming sense dawn on him that he’d been gone for far too long. His stomach plunged at the thought that maybe he was too late after all.

Brigid had warned him, hadn’t she?

Fuck. What if Oriana had been apart from him all this time and decided her life was better without him in it?

“This isn’t real. This isn’t real.” There was a hint of panic in her voice now.

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