Page 95 of Ronan

Fitting he’ll die on his back.

“Thathumanis my mate,” Ronan hisses, and Bruk’s eyes grow wide before he flashes a taunting, crimson-stained grimace.

“They’ll find you. You can’t fucking hide from them.” The sounds are barely discernable, scraping their way from his throat as Ronan smiles a deadly smile. “Mark my words, they will hunt you down—” Ronan growls and snaps forward, sinking his fangs into Bruk’s neck as his voice turns to a gurgle. My eyes squeeze closed and my head jerks away, the sound of tearing flesh ringing into the now-silent night.

I peek back to find Ronan triumphant, fangs dripping with blood that cascades down his chin. A thick, wet bubble rises in Bruk’s throat with each strangled breath, his mouth opening and closing in a desperate, mute rhythm.

Ronan leans closer and pats his cheek, hitting him so hard his head flops to one side. “Yes,” he hisses as the last of his prey fades from this life. “Yes, it was worth it.” Bruk goes motionless and Ronan pants as he sits there, straddling the giant monster.

The final opponent, defeated.

“Ro?” I whisper, and he turns to me, his mauve skin gleaming with a sheen of blood, some still dripping, other parts crusted and dark. He rushes over and crashes to his knees before me, gripping the bars of my cage.

Black eyes meet mine, and the love that shines from them blasts through my earlier doubts. Even like this—even gnarled and twisted,brokenjust like me, those eyes tell me everything I need to hear.

They whisper of safety and protection, and sacrifice unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. Peace and acceptance, and a lifetime of happiness.Forever, they promise, and I nod my answer to their silent question, reaching to cup his cheek as he nuzzles into my touch.

“Forever,”I whisper.

A whimper comes from Khuth’s tent, and my eyes shift towards the noise. “Do not pity him. He got what he deserved and will soon be gone like the others.” The rasping cries that come from inside go quiet, and I nod.

He got what he deserved.

A key slips to the ground as Ronan digs it from his pocket, his clawed fingers clumsy as he picks it up and attempts the lock. “I… am not myself, Cameron.” Thunder booms in the distance as I place my hand over his, stopping his fumbling.

“Let me,” I whisper, and he sinks back onto his haunches, wilting. I reach through the bars and undo the padlock, thankful to stretch my legs as I step out and stand.

Ronan kneels at my feet, head bowed as he stares at his blood-stained hands. “I am a monster.” Lightning cracks across the sky as the first droplets fall from the heavens, illuminating the agony on his face that threatens to break my heart right in half.

My knees sink into the ground in front of him, endlessly black eyes finding mine in the darkness. “They were the monsters, Ronan. Not you... never you. You are amazing, and perfect, and everything I've ever wanted in life. You aremine.” Minutes tick by as he stares, searching for the truth. I don’t look away, don’t even dare to blink.

The light sprinkling of rain turns into a downpour, drowning out everything but him. Raindrops erase the redon Ronan’s face, pinholes of his dusty purple skin appearing as he closes his eyes, looking towards the sky. Crimson-hued water cascades down his body as the violence washes away, soaking into the ground.

I take one of his hands in mine, but he rips it free, twisting away from me.

“Look at me.” His shoulders rise and fall in a few heavy breaths before he turns halfway and meets my eyes. “Please don’t hide from me.”

“I’m a monster,” he repeats, and I shake my head as I tentatively grasp his clawed hand, letting my fingertips dance over the razored points that could tear me into pieces without a second thought.

“You are brave, and beautiful, andselfless, Ronan. But above all that? You aremine. Don’t talk about my favorite person that way.” His serious façade doesn’t crack, but he doesn’t pull away this time. He doesn’t even move as I scrub the dried blood from his skin, allowing the downpour to cleanse him.

Quieter still, he says, “You saw what I can do.”

“I saw you protect me.” I lift his cleaned hand, pressing a kiss to every taloned finger. “Watched you fight those soldiers with no regard for yourself to make sure I stayed safe.” The rain pours harder as I scrub up his arm, rinsing away the battle as I kiss a line up his skin. “Saw you keep your word to never abandon me.”

Emotion burns bright on his face as I whisper, “Close your eyes.” They drift shut as I erase the last traces of blood, washing around his eyes and mouth with the pad of my thumbs. I tilt his head towards the sky, watching it all disappear back into the earth beneath us.

“I watched you love me,” I whisper, dragging my fingers over his lips and the fangs underneath them. Leaning forward, I press the gentlest of kisses against his mouth. “Out loud and fierce, and without abandon, Ronan. Others can say it, but they can’t show it—not like you can. They can’t scream it for the world to hear without ever saying a word. But you can. Youdid.Never apologize for being who you are… never change.”

I press another kiss to his lips as his rough breaths shake his whole body. “Ro, I love you. You know that, don’t you? You are mine, and I am yours, just like we promised. And even though it terrifies me, for the first time in my life, you have given me something stronger than the fear… something worth fighting for. Every piece of me is yours. You want to say I belong to you? Say it.Meanit. I amyours,and I will be yours as long as you’ll have me. I love you, Ronan… I love every single piece of you.”

“Even the monstrous ones?” he asks, voice thick.

“Especially those.” I tug on his neck and urge his lips to mine, and he flinches as he draws back.

He whines like a wounded animal as his heavy eyes find mine through the sheets of rain. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

Eyes never leaving his, I pull my shirt over my head and grab his hand, wrapping it around my waist. My fingers cover his and curl them against my skin, letting his claws drag a slow path. “And you won’t.”

---