104.

104.
ARTEMIS

I couldn’t move or speak. Kieran stood in front of me, staring at me with an expression that was a mix of anger and disappointment. The expression made my stomach churn.

He had saved Ares regardless. He tracked me down and figured out everything that I had tried to hide while all I did was lie and try to run away.

"Kieran," I whispered, my voice breaking. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to lie but I didn’t know what else to do. They threatened that they would kill him if I told anybody and I didn’t want to risk it…”

The words tumbled out of my mouth in a rush as I desperately tried to explain. I needed that look to disappear from his face. The tears that I had been trying to fight flowed freely down my face.

"I never meant any of it. I love you. I love you so much and I hated every word I said to you. But Ares is my baby brother and they had him and I couldn't let them hurt him. I couldn't…"

"Stop." Kieran's voice cut through her rambling, and she I silent, but my whole body continued to shake.

He crossed the distance between us in three strides and pulled me into his arms.

I collapsed against him, sobbing into his chest, with my fingers clutching at his shirt like he might disappear if I let go. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"I know," he murmured against my hair, his arms tightening around me. "I know you are."

"You should hate me," I choked out. "I lied to you. I told you I didn't love you. I…"

"I could never hate you." He pulled back just enough to cup my face, forcing me to look at him. "I was hurt, yes. Confused. But I knew you were lying, Artemis. I knew something was terribly wrong."

"How?" I whispered. "How did you know?"

"Because I know you." His thumbs brushed away my tears. "I know the woman who looks at me like I hung the stars. I know the woman who reaches for me in the night. I know the woman who whispered that she loved me and meant every word." His voice roughened. "That woman doesn't just disappear overnight."

"But I hurt you," I insisted, more tears spilling over. "I saw your face when I said those things. I saw what it did to you."

"Yes, you did." He didn't deny it, didn't soften the truth. "It felt like my world was ending. But even then, even when I wanted to believe you and just let you go, I couldn't. Because nothing about it made sense. The timing, the coldness, the way you couldn't look me in the eye."

"And then you only took fifteen million," he said. "The woman who supposedly didn't love me, who just wanted the money, sent back five million dollars. That told me everything I needed to know."

I let out a broken laugh that was half sob. "I couldn't take more than I needed. It felt wrong."

"I know." He pressed his forehead to mine. "Did you really think I'd just let you walk away? That I wouldn't move heaven and earth to figure out what was wrong?"

"They said they were watching," I whispered. "They said if I involved you, they'd kill Ares. I couldn't risk his life, Kieran. He's all I have left of my family. I couldn't…"

"I know. And that's why I'm not angry." He tilted her face up, making her meet his eyes. "I'm angry at Van and Annabelle for putting you in that position. I'm angry that you felt you had no choice. But I'm not angry at you for trying to save your brother."

"How can you not be angry?" I asked, my voice breaking again. "I broke your heart, Kieran. I saw it in your eyes."

"Because I love you." The words were simple, absolute. "And love means trusting that even when things don't make sense, there's a reason. It means choosing to believe in the person you know, not the lies they're forced to tell."

I broke down completely then, burying my face in his chest, my whole body shaking with sobs of relief and grief and overwhelming love.

Kieran held me through it all, his hand stroking my hair.

"I love you," I said, her voice hoarse but certain. "I love you so much, Kieran. And I'm so sorry for what I put you through."

"I know," he said, a small smile finally breaking through. "And I love you too. More than I thought I was capable of loving anyone."

He kissed me softly, but when he pulled back, his eyes were firm. “We need to establish a few things right now," he said firmly. "No more secrets. No more trying to protect me by pushing me away. If something happens, if someone threatens you or anyone you love, you come to me. Immediately. Do you understand?"

I nodded, fresh tears spilling over. "I understand. I promise. No more secrets."

"Good." He pulled me closer and kissed me again.

When we pulled back, I asked him, “Where is Ares? Can I see him?”

“Of course. We will go to the hospital where he is getting treatment” He wrapped his hand around my waist and led me outside.

"Thank you for not giving up on me” I whispered.

Kieran stopped walking and turned to face me fully. "Artemis, I told you once that I never play a game I don't intend to win. And you…" his voice softened, "…you're the only game that ever mattered."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box and my breath caught. "Kieran…"

“I was supposed to do this in a grand style, but what if you run off again?” he chuckled, opening the box to reveal a stunning emerald ring. “I know this may feel rushed, but I need to make sure that you know that you would always be mine”

He took my hand, his thumb brushing over the simple ring that I couldn’t bear to take off even after leaving. "This ring represented a contract, but what we have now is so much more than that. It's real. It's messy and complicated and more beautiful than I ever imagined it could be."

He removed the old one and slid the new one in place "So I'm not asking you to marry me. You're already my wife. I'm asking you to stay. To choose this…choose us, not because of a contract, but because you want to. Because you love me the way I love you. Forever."

He didn’t need to ask. I already had my answer a long time ago.

"Yes," I whispered, then louder, "Yes. A thousand times yes."

Kieran pulled me into his arms and kissed me deeply.

"Let's go see your brother," he said, taking her hand. "And then let's go home."

"Home," I repeated, the word feeling right in a way it never had before. Because home wasn't a place. It was wherever Kieran was.