Page 149 of Bound By Darkness

Tears burn behind my eyes.Tears I thought I'd emptied already.

I shake my head, my heart splitting open."I love you too, Eamon."

He kisses me then, not rough, not claiming, just infinite.He kisses me like a prayer, like a vow whispered to the wreckage of who I used to be.

When he finally pulls away, it’s only to lift me carefully to my feet, his hands never leaving my body, as if letting go might break me again.His fingertips move over my skin, slow and reverent, washing away the blood, the grime, the weight of everything I had to become to survive.

It’s not just a touch.

It’s devotion.

It’s worship.

It’s love—unconditional, unflinching, and eternal.

He says nothing as he moves, and he doesn't need to.Every stroke of his hands is a silent vow.I’m not going anywhere.

The water runs clear now.

The blood is gone.

But I’ll never forget the woman who stepped into this shower or the one Eamon cradled in his arms while she shattered.

Because she isn't the same anymore.

And maybe that's the point.

He wraps a towel around me like he’s shielding something sacred, pulling me into his arms once more.I press into him, feeling the steady, patient beat of his heart against my cheek.

And for the first time in a long, long time,

I allow myself to feel safe.

Not the girl I was.

Not yet the woman I’ll become.

Just me, broken and breathing, held together by the only man strong enough to stay.

Aoife

The endsof my hair cling to my neck, still damp from the shower, curling in uneven waves.I follow Eamon into the kitchen, my bare feet brushing against the cool tile, every step pulling me a little further from the wreckage I left behind.

The silence between us hums low and steady, not heavy like before.Something quieter, something I can breathe inside.Eamon’s presence fills the room, steady and sure, holding back the darkness I’m not strong enough to face alone.

For now, it’s enough.

Seamus is already there, sitting at the table, a mug of tea in one hand, his phone in the other.He glances up as we enter, his face lined with exhaustion but sharp with focus."Cleanup is underway," he says, his voice all business, cutting straight to what matters.

Eamon crosses his arms.“Any word on my men?”

“Located,” Seamus replies.“They’re en route back to the castle.”He glances between us.“Do you want to handle it personally?”

Turning to Eamon, I say, “It’s okay if you need to go.”

Eamon doesn’t take his eyes off Seamus.“No.You handle it.”

Seamus gives a short nod, no questions asked.

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