Page 97 of A Duke in Her Fate

Ronan sat before the fire with his long legs stretched out, an elbow on his knee and a fist under his chin. He looked so handsome and moody. The firelight lit up his lovely features, flickering to create shadows in the small library.

The two of them always found each other in the library. She wondered at that for a moment before stepping inside.

“Isla.” He whipped his head around immediately.

She swallowed, bracing herself for trouble. Surely he was angry. Disappointed, even, and maybe confused. But all he did was look at her. At this angle, he was thrust into shadow. Then he stretched out a hand.

Before she could help it, her feet were obeying. She rounded a small table and the sofa to reach Ronan. He remained on one knee as he accepted her hand to pull her in closer.

A small gasp escaped her. “Ronan.”

“I love you.”

Her breathing stuttered, never expecting this. “What?”

“I spent my whole life believing that love was a toy or that love was dangerous. For years, it only brought me loss and pain. But you, my dear, you proved me wrong.”

“But I left you,” she choked out in a whisper.

“Not because you died and not because you were weak,” he pointed out gently. “You left because you loved your family more than yourself. I only… I only hope someday I can inspire such adoration.”

She put a hand on his shoulder. “You do. Of course you do, Ronan. I love you.” The words spilled out before she knew them. But there they were. The truth. A painful truth that made her weak in the knees. Slowly she descended to sit on his raised knee and look him in the eyes. “Perhaps if you help me, we can make this situation better, I don’t know, but he expects me tomorrow and I––”

“No. I already told you. Dunn is finished. I can tell you the details later, but not tonight.” His free hand came up to her cheek, cradling her. “I meant what I said. You’re mine, Isla. And I’m never letting you go.”

The realization of his words finally began to sink in, making her feel like she was being born again. No more Dunn. Her future could be here. With Ronan. That bright future she had begun dreaming of not so long ago.

A shaky breath and a hard swallow were needed first. Then she asked tentatively, “You’re sure?”

“Positive.” He smirked for a moment before the curve of his lips softened. “But I don’t want to talk about him. I want to talk about us, Isla. I have seen your strength and your love. And I have been a fool. The partnership between us was never going to work. I want you. Every part of you. My world is empty without you in it, and I never want that again.”

Her fingers dug into his shoulder as she slowly realized what he was saying. “Do you mean it? Say it. Say it again.”

Isla wondered if she needed to explain it to him. But the light in his eyes told her he understood. He slipped his hand from her cheek to her neck, pulling her in close until their lips were nearly touching.

“I love you,” he whispered.

When the tears came this time, Isla didn’t mind them so much. She wasn’t choosing between awful decisions for once. There was something in her future worth reaching for, running toward. She could have it. She could have him. All she had to choose was love.

“Please stay with me,” Ronan murmured as she closed her eyes, feeling him all around her. “Be mine forever.”

Her reply was immediate. “I will. Not out of obligation and not because of lies I told my mother.” She smiled widely until her cheeks were aching. “I will be your duchess because I choose you. Because you choose me.”

“I do. Today and forever.”

“No more rules?”

“No,” he vowed. “Just us.”

And Isla couldn’t think of anything more perfect.

The End?