Page 113 of The Blood Moon Oath

Torin kneels in front of me, his hands gripping my knees, his usually mischievous eyes now deadly serious. “You’ve done more than that, kitten. You’ve changed us. Changedme.I’ve never thought much about what it means to... care about someone. Hell, I don’t even think I’ve loved anyone before. But with you, it’s easy.” His voice drops, rough and raw. “I’d burn this place to the ground if it meant keeping you safe.”

A watery laugh escapes me, and I reach out, resting my hand on his. “You’re crazy, Torin. But... I love that about you.” My voice softens, and I feel my chest tighten as I admit the truth. “I loveyou.”

Torin’s grin splits wide, that unhinged edge flickering behind his expression. “Damn right you do, kitten.” His hands tighten on my knees, his voice lowering to a playful growl. “And you better, because you’re mine now. All mine. And I’m yours.”

For a moment, the room stills, the weight of his words settling between us. There’s no teasing, no bravado in his tone—just an honesty I wasn’t prepared for, but one that wraps around my heart like a protective shield.

“And you better believe,” he adds, his grin returning, “if anyone tries to take you from me, I’ll show them just how crazy I can be.”

Finn steps forward, quiet as always, his sharp gaze soft but focused. He’s been standing slightly apart from the moment, observing with his usual intensity, but now, his hand moves, and my attention is drawn to the silver ring he’s rolling between his fingers. That familiar habit, the way it seems to ground him, holds an almost hypnotic quality.

“Finn?” I ask softly, watching the way the firelight catches on the metal as it glints between his knuckles.

He exhales slowly, the kind of breath someone takes when they’re about to do something that costs them. His eyes meet mine, and there’s something in them I don’t often see—a rawness, an unspoken weight. “Sable,” he says, his voice low and measured. “This ring...it’s more than just a keepsake. It’s a reminder.”

I nod, not wanting to interrupt him. Finn doesn’t open up easily, and whatever he’s about to say feels monumental.

“I’ve carried it for years. Rolled it between my fingers every day to remind myself of the past. Of what I’ve lost. Of what I’ll never allow myself to have again.” He pauses, turning the ring over in his hand. “But maybe it’s time for that to change.”

The words hang in the air, heavy and charged. My heartbeats faster as Finn steps closer, the small silver band held carefully between his thumb and forefinger.

“May I?” he asks, and his gaze flickers to my hand.

I lift my hand hesitantly, my chest tightening as he gently takes it in his own. His touch is steady, warm, and I can feel the significance of this moment radiating from him like a pulse. Finn isn’t Torin—he won’t voice grand declarations, won’t offer flowery words or promises. But this...this is something deeper.

He slips the ring onto my finger, his movements precise and deliberate. The cool metal feels heavy, almost alive, as though it carries the weight of everything he’s gone through. Everything he’s letting go of.

“It’s yours now,” he says simply, his voice quieter than before but no less intense. “For safe keeping. For...us.”

The breath I’ve been holding escapes in a rush, and I look down at the ring, my fingers trembling slightly. “Finn,” I whisper, my throat tight with emotion. “This means so much to you. Are you sure?”

“I’m sure,” he replies, his eyes never leaving mine. “You’ve already changed so much for us—for me. It’s time I let go of what’s holding me back. And if anyone deserves this, it’s you.”

The warmth in his tone, the vulnerability he’s rarely shown, makes my chest ache. I curl my fingers, feeling the ring settle against my skin. “Thank you,” I manage to say, my voice thick. “I’ll protect it. Always.”

Finn nods, his usual stoic expression softening just slightly. His thumb brushes over the back of my hand before he steps back, giving me space. But the weight of his gesture lingers, as tangible as the ring itself.

Kael steps forward next, his presence commanding asalways, though there’s a flicker of something in his eyes that softens the edge. His gaze is locked on me, and I feel my breath hitch. Kael rarely lets his guard down, even around me, but tonight...tonight feels different.

He looks down at my hand, at Finn’s ring now resting on my finger, and then back up to my face. His jaw tenses, but it’s not with jealousy—it’s something deeper. A decision forming behind those ice-blue eyes.

“I have something for you too,” Kael says, his voice low but steady. He reaches into his coat, pulling out a small, worn object. When he holds it out, I realize it’s a leather-bound journal, the edges frayed from years of use.

I glance up at him, confused. “What is this?”

He hesitates, his fingers brushing over the cover before he hands it to me. “It’s...my past. My thoughts. The things I’ve never shared with anyone. Not even Torin or Finn.”

My eyes widen as I take the journal, the weight of it feeling heavier than its size. “Kael, this—are you sure?”

“I’m sure,” he replies, his tone firm. “You wanted to understand me, to know who I really am. This is everything. The things that made me, the decisions I’ve questioned, the truths I’ve buried. It’s all in there.”

Emotion wells up in my chest, and I clutch the journal tightly. Kael, the man who keeps everyone at arm’s length, who rules with an iron will and never falters, is offering me something so personal, so raw. “Thank you,” I whisper, my voice trembling. “This means...more than I can say.”

Kael steps closer, his towering frame casting a shadow over me, but there’s no intimidation in it. Only warmth. “You’re not just some binding or ally to us, Sable,” he says, his voice softer now. “You’re part of this—part of us. And I’ll spend however long it takes proving that to you.”

My heart twists at his words, and before I can stop myself, Istep forward, closing the space between us. “Kael...” I murmur, my hand brushing against his chest. His gaze drops to mine, intense and unwavering, and I feel the air between us shift.

Then, without warning, Kael’s hand cups the back of my neck, and he pulls me into him. His lips crush against mine, firm and unrelenting, but there’s a tenderness there too. A rawness that makes my knees weak. I lean into him, my fingers gripping his shirt as the kiss deepens, a surge of electricity crackling between us through the bond.

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