Page 38 of Desecrated Reign

Holding up my hands, I silently tell her I won’t push, then instantly regret it when her eyes fall to the new ring on my left hand.

She swallows her words, then flicks her sorrowful gaze between Rohan and me. “You didn’t wait too long, did you?”

My eyes fall to the debris beneath my feet, but Rohan steps in next to me, narrowing his eyes on her. “That’s not fair, Beibhinn.”

“Maybe fucking not! But do you know what else isn’t fair, Rohan? The fact that my brother is six feet below ground while you two get to play happily ever after.” Her eyes dart back towards me. “Congratulations,” she spits. “Don’t get this one killed.”

My heart shatters, dropping to the ground in a million tiny pieces as her words gut me with the sharpness of a hook.

Then, picking up her backpack, she strides off towards our destination, leaving everyone else to follow close behind.

Holding back the tears, I bite down on my lower lip as Rohan throws his arm around my shoulder, drawing me against his chest as we continue along the narrow trail between the trees. “She doesn’t mean it, love. She’s just hurting.”

As I push through the emotions brewing at the surface, I try to put myself in her shoes. Losing her twin has broken her beyond repair, and right now, she’s blaming anyone she can because she can’t make sense of it all.

Like I did with Rohan, she’s pushing those closest to her away, and although her words sting, I need to remember that beyond them is my best friend, and like us all, she’s drowning in her grief. She needs time to wade through life without her twin beside her, especially now that she’s the only Devereux heir and has been left to carry the weight of Liam’s legacy.

“I know. Doesn’t make it any easier, though.”

Rohan kisses the top of my head and pulls away from me with a sad smile. “I’m gonna go talk to her. Will you be okay back here?”

“Yeah, I’m good. She needs a friend right now, and unfortunately, it can’t be me.”

Appearing next to me, Shannon offers me a shy smile before darting her gaze towards Rohan. “Go. I’ll stick with Saoirse.”

“Thanks, Shan.”

“Don’t thank me, King. We’re a team, remember?”

24

ROHAN

With Dillon leading the charge, I fall into step next to Beibhinn, keeping up with her thunderous pace as she wades through the trees. My gaze claws into the side of her face, scratching at her resolve. She shoots me a glance from the corner of her eye before averting her vision to the trail ahead. Her chest rises in pursuit of air, and she chuffs her aggravation past her teeth. “Stop looking at me like that, Rohan.”

“Like what?” I push, knowing all too well that I’m getting under her skin.

Her shoulders drop as she tosses me another side glance. “Like I am the biggest C-U-Next-Tuesday in the world.”

Raising a brow, I keep my eyes pinned to the side of her face. “Never said that, B.”

“Yeah, well, you didn’t have to”—she sighs before adding—“because I’m saying it to myself.”

“Ah, I see you’ve mastered the art of projecting.”

As she shakes her head, she adds in an eye roll. “I’m sorry, alright? It’s just hard seeing you two happy, knowing my brother will never have that chance.”

Laying my hand on her shoulder, I give it a light squeeze. “That’s where you’re wrong, B. Every moment he spent with her, he was happy.”

She stops, twisting her torso to face me but remains silent. Pinching her lips together, she holds back the emotion welling behind her eyes. “I need time.”

“I know.”

With a glance over my shoulder, I spy Saoirse and Shannon next to Lucas—another one of Cadden’s friends from the Munster Syndicate. All three have their heads lowered, piecing the two maps together while they try to figure out what direction we need to go.

“Listen up,” Saoirse shouts, gaining everyone’s attention, including Cadden and Brodie, who quickly close the distance between them and the group after Cadden’s angry outburst.

Beibhinn’s eyes latch on Cadden, and she stiffens, so I place a hand on her arm, reassuring her. “Ignore him.”

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