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Her gasp was audible, but there was no turning back now.
“Eva, I told you once that my heart beat for you, and I want you to know it still does.”
Her eyes welled with unshed tears, and he cupped the side of her face.
“When I found out that Everwood was going to be attacked by the general, I rushed back to the settlement, not to prove something to you or hope you would choose me, but because I just couldn’t stand to see you or Everwood hurt. I wanted to prevent that from happening. Even if we didn’t end up together. I just wanted to protect you and the place you love so much.” He took a shaky breath. “But now, I’m asking you to choose me. I don’t want you to just say yes for the peace treaty or to save Everwood. I want you to say yes because it is me you would be marrying.”
A tear slid down her cheek, and he used his thumb to swipe it away. “Don’t cry, Angel.”
He stood and retrieved a small box from the mantel. Holding the box in his hand, he removed his mother’s ring. His father had given it to him when he told him of the peace treaty he was going to send to Everwood. So much had happened since that day.
He sank to his knee once more and held it up for her to view. “If you say yes, I promise to do everything in my power to make you happy. I promise to love and protect you all the days of my life. And I promise that we will avenge Everwood. Evangeline Wolf... I should probably learn your middle name.” She laughed and wiped at her cheeks, and he asked, “Will you marry me?”
Chapter 20
Was she breathing? She couldn’t tell. All she could feel were the tears sliding down her cheeks, the tremble in her fingers, and the rapid beat of her heart.
Fate had set this man in her path for a reason. And now she had the chance to not only save Everwood but marry for love—with Cillian... her Krieger. The man who crumbled her walls and worked his way straight into her heart.
As her eyes roamed over the yellow gold band with a solitaire oval diamond, her cheeks heated and warmth spread across her chest. He wanted her to be his wife.
No words formed as she cupped her face and shook her head. This couldn’t be—she had broken her rules. Don’t fall in love, and protect the people. She had failed her people. She didn’t deserve to feel happiness. What would her mom think? Her fault.
While her mind was spinning, he placed his hands on her wrists and lowered her arms, saying, “Eva, let me carry some of your burdens, Angel.” He tucked some of her hair behind her ear. “I’m here, kneeling before you, asking you to share your life with me, not just because it will benefit both our settlements and end a feud—but hell, Eva, don’t you know? I want you by my side every day. I want to see those beautiful jade eyes of yours, and listen to that spirited voice, and touch this soft, golden hair.”
She took a deep breath. Could she let him share in her burden? The way she was living before had led her down a path of being betrayed, by someone she considered a friend no less. If she had been more connected to the people around her—been a better friend to Derek—she might have seen his pain and shame that lay beneath the surface.Instead, she had been focused on the physical part of protecting her settlement, and look where that had gotten them. Maybe that’s why she had failed.
Maybe it was time for a different path, one where she wasn’t suppressing her feelings and was able to open her heart. How could she have ever considered revenge—that would have been the last thing her mother would have wanted. She still had time to become a person her mom would be proud of.
As she gazed upon him, she couldn’t deny that every cell in her body wanted to say yes. But the bent and broken side of her heart was heavy with disbelief. Cillian was from a land she had considered her enemy for years, and that wasn’t an easy thing to let go. But Cillian had been helping her loosen her grip on the past this whole time.
This man had not only saved her life—on more than one occasion—he’d also taken care of her and treated her with respect. Cillian Beck was everything she could ever want in a life partner, a man she would be honored to go to war with and have by her side.
His smile filled her with a joy she hadn’t felt in years. He looked down, sweat breaking out on his brow as he held the ring. Was he nervous?
Then he took her left hand and added, “Plus, I can’t wait to see General Rush’s face when we take him down. Together.”
Her lips parted and she breathed, “Together?”
He was willing to help her free her people and bring the man who had destroyed her home to justice—not just because of the peace treaty but because it was important to her.
Her heart swelled as he placed the engagement ring on her finger and said, “I won’t deny it, the mission to free Everwood will be dangerous, but I can’t do it without you.”
Locking her eyes on his, she nodded and said, “Okay, Cillian. Together.”
His smile widened. “Yeah?”
She nodded again, smiling. “Yes.”
Then she was in his arms as he lifted her from the chair. She embraced him, closing her eyes as she inhaled his rich pine scent, locking this moment into a memory she could recall when she wanted to.
As he set her gently back onto the floor, he leaned in but then hesitated. Her eyes moved from his eyes to his lips, and a deep ache settled in her belly as she remembered what it felt like to have his mouth pressed against hers. Raising up on her tippy toes, she wrapped her arms around his neck and crashed her lips against his.
Eva’s body molded to his as he tightened his grip on her. She opened for him, feeling his tongue caress hers, and she melted in his arms. These strong arms she never wanted to leave.
In the middle of their embrace, a tapping on the door caused her to pull back. Axel was on his feet, a growl emanating from his throat.
Cillian’s muscles tensed under her palm, and his eyes landed hard on the entrance. “Who’s there?”
