Page 110 of His Stolen Bride

“Yes,” I answer, and I don’t have to think about what I mean.

His mouth finds mine, and relief hits me like a wave, and I cling to him without shame, fingers gripping his shirt like Oisin did to mine earlier. Mikhail makes a low sound and pulls me closer, and for a moment the world shrinks down to skin and breath and the fact that we’re still alive.

My hands slide up his chest, over his shoulders, into his hair. He leans into it like he’s letting himself take what he’s wanted without paying for it in guilt.

He breaks the kiss only to press his forehead to mine.

“Tonight,” he says, voice tight. “If you want.”

I nod, breath unsteady. “I want.”

His eyes hold mine, and there’s something in them I’ve never seen before.

Trust.

It makes my stomach flip. I step back first, not because I want distance, but because I need to breathe.

Mikhail’s hands slide down my arms reluctantly.

“Go rest,” he says. “Eat. Stay with Oisin.”

“I will,” I reply.

I turn to leave, and his voice stops me.

“Alina.”

I look back.

He says it again, lower. “You did it.”

I don’t pretend I don’t know what he means.

I nod once. “So did you.”

30

ALINA

That night, Oisin falls asleep early because he’s worn out from spending the day glued to me like a shadow and interrogating every adult in the house about whether the bad man is “gone-gone”.

Sofia reads him stories again. Mikhail’s mother watches from the doorway like she’s guarding something larger than a child’s sleep. They both leave before I do. When Oisin finally drifts off, his hand still wrapped around the edge of my sleeve, I sit on the bed and stare at his face.

He’s safe.

I can’t remember the last time I let myself believe that word without immediately looking over my shoulder. A while later, I’m still with Oisin when Sofia peeks in, grinning. “He’s waiting.”

My stomach tightens.

Sofia raises a brow. “Not like that. He’s not pacing like a serial killer. He’s just… there.”

“Okay,” I whisper.

Sofia’s grin turns knowing. “I’ll be watching Oisin.”

I stand slowly, careful not to wake Oisin, and leave the room.

Mikhail is in the hallway, leaning against the wall like he’s trying to look casual and failing.