Page 27 of Iron Crown

I kissed her, our lips pressing together in a loud smack.

“And I doubt that it has made you love me better.”

I let her go, and she fell against the backrest of her chair.

“If you want something from me, sweet Muse, ask for it.”Tell me to leave, if that is what you want. Or tell me to hold on tighter, and I will, my love.“I cannot keep forcing myself into places I am not wanted.”

Was it all too harsh? Yes.

But my stomach ached from her wanting to take my son away. I was breaking, piece by piece, shattering like I had three years ago, because Iknewthis would not last any longer than those moments of peace. It would be no longer than the honeymoon we’d once shared.

I walked away, extending my hand to Cillian, who grabbed it with absolute trust. The little man liked me, which was a small consolation.

“I love you, Eoghan,” she whispered.

My heart felt light again, as though it were an inflated balloon. “I know, sweet Muse. In your way, you do.”

I was hurting her, and I knew it. I wanted to stop. Ineededto stop.

“But we must get past this.” I returned to her side, placing my hands on the backrest and leaning down to kiss her cheek. “You must trust me, Love. Or we will break apart anyway.”

I put my forehead on the crown of her head, taking in her intoxicating scent.

“I’m trying.” She breathed a sigh. “When you keep a secret so long, it’s… it’s hard to know when or how to even let it go.”

I let out a breath through my nose, and gently placed my hand against the side of her neck. I ran my palm over her throat before I cupped her chin, forcing her head back until she stared up at me.

“That, my love,” I whispered, dropping a small kiss to her mouth, “is something I can understand.”

I had confessed my secret to Morelli. Who had she confessed hers to?

Chapter eight

No Diapers

Kira

The Vasiliev mansion was, in a word,creepy. Just as Eoghan had said. It had spiraling gothic towers, was missing sentries, and flying gargoyles.

The fact that the sky was blue did nothing to the surrealism of this place.

When I saw Aoibheann at the top of the stairs, her flowing, deep purple gown lying gracefully over her protruding belly, it all made sense.Shebelonged here. She smiled at me with a gentleness that put me at ease, even as the tension between Eoghan and I threatened to make me break down in sobs. I was so tired of crying.

Crying was an exhausting preoccupation.

Eoghan insisted on carrying Cillian, as if he was afraid I’d snatch him and run away at any moment. The trust, the bond, was broken, and yet the love was still there, devolving into nothing but pain and longing.

He didn’t grab my hand or touch my waist. He had opened the door for me, so that was something, at least.

“We have a full house today,” Aoibheann said, placing her hand on her round belly.

It almost felt like my C-section scar ached at seeing her round with a child. I had enjoyed my pregnancy, mostly. I felt tired and bloated, of course, but I’d spent a lot of time talking to my belly. There was something soothing about always keeping him warm inside of me that lessened how much I missed the man I had left behind. My husband. My Eoghan.

Though that was nothing compared to how much I missed him now, when he was standing right beside me.

“Cousin!” Dairo cheerily waved through the darkness of the front door, coming out into the sunlight. “What a delight to see you again, Kira.”

He came down the stairs, his feet moving like Marvin the Martian, as he grabbed Cillian from Eoghan and threw him into the air. “This must be my darling nephew, Cillian!”

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