Page 64 of Twisted Thorns

The door to my room opens and Iris walks in, her eyes wide once she spots me. "You're awake!"

At her exclamation, a commotion echoes in the hallway, with Claire and Amanda quickly following Iris into the room.

"Oh, Avie!" Claire exclaims, "I was so worried about you! I didn't know what to do when you disappeared at the club."

Iris interrupts. "Claire called me, and I called Kieran. I knew if anyone could help, it was him."

I blink at this statement, so unlike how Iris talked about Kieran the last time we discussed it.

Iris grabs my hands in hers. "I know what you're thinking, Avie. I was wrong. If it wasn't for Kieran, who knows if you'd even be alive right now. He saved you."

I see Kieran frown over Claire's shoulder, and he speaks the words I know he's thinking. "No, I was the one that put Avalina in danger. If she was never in a relationship with me, Sean wouldn't have targeted her."

Iris whips around and smacks Kieran on the shoulder. "No, you don't get to say things like that. Sean made his choices because he was a horrible person. You made choices because you love Avalina."

Kieran's eyes soften at that. "You're right, I do love her," he says as his eyes meet mine.

As our gazes lock, unspoken promises and fears tangle together like the threads of a tapestry, weaving an uncertain path forward.

I turn my gaze back to Iris, who is patting my hand. It is clear that the two have been talking while I was asleep. "How long was I out?"

"Almost a day."

Claire walks to the other side of the bed, sitting next to me. "I'm so sorry, Avie, I should have gone with you outside. I shouldn't have left you alone."

I clutch Claire's hand. "No, no, it's not your fault. Iris is right. The only person who is at fault is Sean O'Neil."

Kieran clears his throat and Iris and Claire exchange a look I can't decipher before my friends make excuses to clear the room.

It feels like stones are gathering in my chest, weighing me down and rooting me to the spot, caught in Kieran's snare.

"Kieran," I begin, my voice wavering, "Is everything okay? Are we safe now?"

"Yes, we're safe, Lina." Kieran says, placing a kiss on the top of my head. "Sean and those loyal to him are gone."

"What about Finn?"

"He's fine. The doctor says it will take some time for him to recover, so Slone has stepped in for now. She seems to have a firm hand on things."

"That doesn't surprise me, given how she risked her life to save me. To save us."

"Lina, I want you to know. It's all over now. You're safe now. I promise. No matter what you want to do with your life, where you want to go, who you want to be with."

"Who I want to be with?" I can't keep the sharp bite out of my tone. "Do I have a choice now?"

"I fucked up. I thought staying away would protect you, but I just put you in more danger. I'm so sorry, Avalina."

"Sorry doesn't make up for the new nightmares, Kieran." Anger surges, hot and molten. My words flow like an angry torrent that seeks every chink in Kieran's armor. "You walked away."

Kieran flinches but holds my gaze all the same, willing to take every blow I can give.

"I know, and I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you, if you let me."

My rage cools at the unwavering oath Kieran is offering. But I'm still unsure if I want to accept.

Kieran's world holds a savage violence that most would run from, afraid of the beasts that lurk in the night. But I understand games of power, and I trust Kieran is one of the few that seeks the crown not to control, but to protect.

The question is, did I trust that Kieran can protect me? If I stay by his side, if I stay in his life, will there be another repeat of the nightmare currently replaying in my mind?

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