Page 70 of Lost Heir
Part of me knew it was wrong to find joy amidst all the chaos and danger surrounding us. But when Ronan looked at me with those intense eyes filled with longing and tenderness, I couldn't resist.
“You know,” he whispered, his voice sending shivers down my spine, “although it’s been a day from hell, I've been looking forward to this moment all day.”
I chuckled and traced the tattoos on his bare chest. “Me too,” I admitted, feeling a rush of heat between us.
Ronan leaned in, his lips brushing against mine in a tantalizing tease before claiming them in a passionate kiss. The world around us melted away as we lost ourselves in each other, our passion igniting like wildfire. Our bodies moved together in perfect harmony, every touch and caress fueling the flames of our desire. The room was filled with soft sighs and whispered words of longing as we gave in to the undeniable pull drawing us closer.
In that fleeting moment, it was as if time stood still and there was only us, our hearts beating in perfect synchronicity. The weight of his warm body against mine brought a sense of comfort I desperately needed. But just as quickly as the moment came, it disappeared as my mind flooded with memories from earlier in the day. The sight of Tessa's lifeless body in my arms replayed onrepeat in my mind and anguished guilt settled in my chest.
“Wait,” I murmured, pulling away from Ronan's embrace.
His brows furrowed in concern. “Are you alright?” he asked, his voice laced with worry.
I shook my head, unable to fully articulate my jumbled thoughts and emotions. “I don't know, I just …”
“You feel guilty,” Ronan finished for me, his grip on me loosening as he laid back on the bed.
I nodded slowly as tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. “Yes. I do.”
Ronan's understanding nod and quiet acceptance offered some solace in the midst of my turmoil. “But you know it’s not your fault. It’s Caelan’s.Hekilled Tessa. Not you.”
“Yes … you’re right, but you’re also wrong. He might have killed her, but he used me as his tool.” I blew out a shaky breath. “I never even asked about her family.”
Ronan wrapped his arms around me and pulled me to his chest. “Let go of the guilt. It won’t do you any good. All we can do now is pray that the gods have guided Tessa into the afterlife safely, where she’ll be watching over you.” He grabbed the blanket and pulled it up to our shoulders. “Come on, let’s get some sleep,” he whispered.
“But—”
“Shh,” he quieted me. “Now’s not the time. You need rest. Your mind needs to rest. I’ll be right here if you need anything.”
His soothing voice and touch lulled me into a state of drowsiness, and before I realized it, sleep had claimed me. The darkness enveloped me, offering respite from the weight of my swirling thoughts and emotions.
The following morning,we were awakened by a light knock on our door. Drowsily, I sat up and nudged Ronan awake. When the knocking grew louder, Ronan and I became fully alert.
Ronan grabbed his clothes from the floor and put them on haphazardly, then went to the door. He turned the knob slowly and pulled the door slightly ajar to see who it was. There was a flurry of hushed whispers and after a few moments, Ronan shut the door.
Dressing quickly, I went over to him as he ran a hand through his long hair. “Who was it?” I asked.
“The messenger,” he said. “Mykal received our message, but he didn’t send one in return.”
I bit my lip. It was too large of a risk to attempt to cross the border without knowing Mykal’s stance, but if we didn’t leave now, we would be sitting ducks until the Valorian army arrived en masse and discovered us.
Ronan eyed me. “What do you think?”
“I say we risk it,” I said. “Unless you want to turn back?”
Ronan shook his head. “No, I don’t. We’ve come this far.”
“Then let’s head to the border.”
We gathered our few belongings and wrapped our cloaks once more before stepping out into the early morning. The village was just beginning to stir, with a few early risers in the streets. The air held a crisp chill, a reminder that we were still in dawn’s early grasp.
The innkeeper, Mira, caught my eye as we stepped toward the door. She gave us a knowing nod, her expression solemn. I felt a wave of gratitude towards her for her help, however small it might have been in the grand scheme of things.
The journey to the border was tense. Each step took us closer to an uncertain confrontation, and while I shouldered the responsibility of our decision, part of me was relieved. We were taking action, no longer hiding in the shadows and waiting for the threat to find us.
The landscape gradually shifted as we walked, the village's quaint homes and bustling streets giving way to the wild, untamed beauty of Valoria's borderlands. The forest grew denser, the path less defined, and I constantly scanned our surroundings for any signs of danger.
Hand in hand, Ronan and I walked in relative silence until I couldn’t keep quiet any longer. I knew what I was about to say would piss him off, but I needed to get it off my chest. “I can only go with you until we reach the Central Plains border,” I said. There was a small patch of land of the Central Plains between Keldara and the Grasslands that could be crossed in just a few hours. “Although Marcellus is back at the palace to plead our case, I wouldn’t put it past Caelan to suggest to my father that you kidnapped me. To avoid any further conflict and clear your name, I need to return. I just want to see you safely home.”
