Page 156 of Rags to Royals

He wants his family united with Alfred’s. That is actually not hard for me to understand. Alfred was like a brother to him. Like Henry is to me. I understand, especially now that Alfred is gone, Diarmuid’s desire to keep Alfred alive and with him in whatever way he can.

I glance behind me and see Astrid standing near the windows.

She looks beautiful. Of course she does.

She’s wonderful. We could do this. We could make both of our families incredibly happy, grant my grandfather’s final wish, have a good life together.

But I just can’t.

As long as Scarlett Gale is in this world, I cannot even pretend to give my heart to someone else.

“Grandfather, there’s something I need to say to you,” I tell him, turning back.

“What is it?” he asks, looking concerned.

“I am so sorry. But it’s time that I tell you, all of you, my family, the people I love and trust the most, who I really am.”

My grandfather nods. “Of course. We love you and we’re so proud of you.”

I feel my heart kick hard at those words. God, I love them. I want to make these people proud. “Grandfather, I want tobeCian O’Grady to the world. Torin, Fiona, and Declan’s brother. Diarmuid and Roisin’s grandson. I want everyone to know who we are. We have all been too quiet—in the US and on this tiny unknown island—for too long. And I want to be a part of making the O’Grady name known and esteemed.”

He gives me a heartfelt smile. “I know you do. You are doing that, Cian. There are so many great things ahead.”

My heart feels like it expands in my chest.

“And Astrid will do so much as a part of that. As an O’Grady,” the king adds.

Yes. She would. “I agree,” I tell him. “But I love someone else. I want someone else to be my partner in all of the things ahead of me. Someone who makes me a better man, who makes me believe I can do more, who supports and loves me and wants to see me do great things.”

Diarmuid frowns. “I see. And who is this?”

Suddenly, I feel a hand on my shoulder, pulling me back. I turn and find Henry standing there.

“Your Majesty,” he says with a bow. “Forgive me.”

“Wha—” Diarmuid starts.

But then Henry pulls me in and presses his mouth to mine.

Multiple gasps are heard all around.

I hear my grandfather say, “I see.”

Then my grandmother’s voice says, “I always suspected.”

I’m almost too distracted by Henrystillkissing me to hear the next voice from beside him that says, “Oh for fuck’s sake”.

Henry is pulled away a second later and that same voice says, “This is really not necessary.”

Henry swipes his thumb over his lips, scowling at the man who interrupted. “Dammit, you don’t understand.”

“I understand perfectly. And how isyoumarrying him, or whatever this is, solving anything?”

I blink at the man, then say, “Declan?”

As usual, my brother is in a dark, expensive, custom-tailored suit that looks like he was born in it. I have never seen him fidget with a cuff link or mess with his tie as if it’s too tight. He seems as at ease in suits as I am in sweatpants. Declan is taller than me by about two inches. He’s got darker eyes than the rest of us. Torin, Fiona, and I all have blue whereas Declan’s are a deep brown. But he has the same thick, dark hair and is also sporting a short-cropped beard. He has also got his usual broody expression on that Fiona calls his resting asshole face.

“It was stoppingthiswedding,” Henry says. “That was the main objective.”

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