Page 66 of Broken Rejected Mate

“And you…still mean it?”

“Veva,” I let out a little laugh, something between a breath and a sigh. “I willalwaysmean it.”

“You will?”

Holding her gaze, I reach into my pocket, finding the velvet box, which is slightly matted from all the rain. I pull it out, open it, and set it on the bedspread facing her.

She stares at it for a long moment, then lifts her head, finding my eyes.

“Is that…?”

“Yes.” I swallow, glance at the ring. “I’ve been wanting to ask you since the moment I first saw you at that market, Veva. Even if Sarina…even if she wasn’t mine, I’d want her, because she’s a part of you. And I want every part of you.”

A tear slips down her face, and she reaches across the bed, taking my hand in hers, so she’s holding Sarina in one palm and me in the other.

“I want that, too,” Veva says. “Every part of you. I want us to stay, to be a family together. I never thought I would say it, but…Ambersky is my home. And I love being here with you.”

“Okay, then.” My words are soft, and I glance at the ring again. “Veva Marone, will you marry me?”

She lets out a little choked sound, burying her face in her shoulder for a moment. Then she whirls around, looking at her other hand. I see Sarina squeeze it in a pattern—one-two, one-two.

“Sarina,” Veva gasps, turning and cupping Sarina’s face in her hands. “Oh, hey baby. Do you want some water—?”

“Mom,” Sarina laughs, looking over at me with an eyeroll that sayscan you believe this woman? “I want you to say yes to Emin’s question.”

I bite my tongue, bite back the impulse to ask her to call me something else. Not Emin—Dad. But I know that will come later.

“Oh,” Veva laughs, her hands shaking as she runs them down her shirt. “Okay. I mean—of course it’s a yes. It’s ayes, Emin.”

Smiling, I take the ring, lift her hand, and slide the ring onto one shaking finger. Time pauses, and we stay like that for a moment, our hands together, our gazes locked.

“Okay,” Sarina rasps. “Great job. Now, actually, I do want some water.”

Chapter 37 - Veva

It’s dark, and I am absolutely drowning in the scent of Emin Argent.

Usually, this is a nightmare. But not this time. This time, his scent is more comforting to me than ever. I know how this is going to go, and it’s not the way it did all those years ago. I feel my intuition inside me, that guiding force that I’m finally able to give a name.

I turn my head side to side, taking in the brush of the fabric against my face, the smooth scrape of the cotton. I close my eyes, open them, let myself exist in the moment. Remember what it was like to be the teenager hiding in this closet. Think about just how far I’ve come since that moment.

There’s no fear. Only a faint gratitude for everything I’ve gone through, and how strong it has made me.

Only a second later, the door opens, letting in the low light of the moon through the window. Emin stands in front of me—no longer a teenager, but his full, adult self.

So handsome, that red-gold hair loose and wavy on his head. He smiles at me, and even in the dark I can make out the glint of his eyes, that honey golden color I could pick out of a line-up. Sarina got so much from him—so much strawberry and light, glittering rose gold.

Holding one hand, he reaches out to me. I grasp his hand, and he pulls me to my feet.

“Come on,” he whispers, tugging me up and into him, so our chests press together. Holding my gaze, he says, “I’m not hiding you, Veva. Not any more.”

His father is in the doorway, and he smiles at me. Kellen Argent, making small talk with me, thanking me for coming over. Kira and I laugh together, and for a moment, I feel the pang of what it could have been like—Kira and I being there for one another in high school.

Instead we went through everything alone.

But it’s okay, because I have Sarina, and Kira has her twins. And, given the choice to go back and change, I’m sure neither of us would have done a thing differently. I love Sarina for the strong, independent girl she is, and I love that I know I’m capable of taking care of her and myself, if I ever need to.

Dream Emin glances at me, raising an eyebrow, clearly reading my thoughts and saying,You will never need to again, Veva.

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