Page 12

The Return and Confrontation

brIAR

R onan's arms tighten around me briefly before he sets me on my feet in Frostspire Keep's entrance hall. The warmth of his touch lingers even as he steps back, his expression guarded once more. Blood from his wounds stains the snow we've tracked in, a stark reminder of the fight with Gage's wolves.

"You should rest," he says gruffly, though his eyes never leave my face. The silver gleam from his wolf form hasn't fully faded, making his gaze more intense than ever. "It's been a long night."

"No." The word comes out stronger than I expect, strengthened perhaps by the castle's magic that swirls around us, responding to our proximity. "We need to talk about what happened out there. About what Angelic said?—"

"There's nothing to discuss." He turns away, but I catch a flash of pain in his expression. "The curse is getting stronger. You saw what happened out there, what Rurik's influence—" He breaks off, jaw tightening. "You need to leave. It's too risky."

"I'm not leaving." I step closer, and the magic pulses between us like a living thing. "The curse isn't getting stronger because of me. It's getting stronger because you keep fighting this—fighting us."

The nearest candles flare suddenly, casting wild shadows across the walls. Ronan's hands clench at his sides, and I can feel the curse writhing beneath his skin, reaching for the magic that pulses between us.

"You don't understand what you're risking." His voice drops lower, dangerous. "What happened in the forest—that was just the beginning. And you..." He breaks off, turning away. "I won't watch you die because of my mistakes."

"Look at me." When he doesn't move, I close the distance between us, my heart racing as I reach for his arm.

The second we touch, a surge of energy sparks within me, firing every sensory thread to life. The atmosphere seems to vibrate with unmet tension, our inexplicable bond exerting a gravitational force that inevitably pulls me deeper into him.

Each moment stretches, thickening the air around us until it feels charged with fate.

"Ronan, please. Just look at me." My voice is softer now, almost breathless. I can feel the intensity of his gaze even when he refuses to meet it directly, but there's acknowledgement in his stance—an awareness that shifts the very atmosphere between us.

I stand here, caught between fear and longing, a thought tugs at the back of my mind.

I drove across the country to a castle in the middle of nowhere, answering a mysterious email invitation that vanished like smoke.

I’m living in a magical castle that’s dying, its very essence tied to a curse, and yet... I've never felt more alive, more present, than I do in this moment. I’ve never felt like I belonged with anyone or anywhere more than here, with him.

And like the magic that has us bound together, all the worries and doubts that swirl around me recede. In the depths of uncertainty, I find my purpose rising like a flame, illuminating the path I’m determined to take.

I’m willing to fight for this—the Keep, for the magic that connects us, and for Ronan's heart.

Then everything we've kept buried rises to the surface.

The encounter in the forest flashes through my mind—the raw edges of danger and desire colliding. Our kisses, filled with urgency and longing, had hinted at something deeper, something powerful that neither of us dared to fully acknowledge.

Right here, in this enchanting yet perilous castle, my heart beats in sync with the pulsing magic that surrounds us, telling me this is where I belong.

But Ronan still tries to distance himself, a barrier I refuse to accept any longer. I step closer, invading the space between us, my resolve hardening. I won’t let him push me away again.

Ronan stands before me, naked and magnificent in the flickering firelight. His broad shoulders and chiseled torso are sculpted with lean muscle, each sinew and ridge casting intricate shadows that dance across his skin.

My gaze traces the hard planes of his abdomen, my breath catching at the sight of the defined V that points to his…. And I jerk my gaze higher as heat blooms in my cheeks. My eyes travel upward, taking in the smattering of dark hair across his chest that narrows into a trail leading down from his navel.

His powerful thighs flex as he shifts his weight, and I can't help but admire the way his body moves with an almost feral grace. The raw power emanating from him. My pulse quickens when our eyes meet, his stormy gaze holding me captive with an intensity that sends a shiver down my spine. I feel exposed, as if he can see straight through to the deepest parts of my soul—and the longing I fight to contain.

I swallow hard, my mouth suddenly dry as desire coils low in my belly. I've never seen a man so ruggedly beautiful, his raw masculinity both intimidating and intoxicating. The urge to reach out and trace the hard lines of his body with my fingertips is nearly overwhelming, and I clench my fists at my sides to keep from giving in to the temptation.

My heart pounds against my ribs as I struggle to maintain my composure, even as every nerve ending in my body screams for me to close the distance between us.

He turns slowly, and the raw emotion in his eyes steals my breath. Pain, fear, longing—it's all there, burning beneath the silver. The curse pulses visibly now, making the air shimmer around us like heat waves rising from summer pavement.

"The magic responds to us," I tell him softly. "You must feel it. Every time we're together, every time we touch—the castle comes alive. Even Angelic saw it."

"That's what makes it dangerous." His hand comes up to cup my face, the touch so gentle it makes my heart ache. "The curse feeds on that connection. Uses it. And when it finally breaks?—"

"Then we’ll deal with it together." I lean into his touch, sensing the tension that ripples through him. "I need you to stop resisting. Stop pushing us away."

The magic surges between us, warm and alive. Unlike the cold grip of the curse, this energy feels right—like coming home after a long journey. Ronan's thumb traces my cheekbone, and I watch his control slip further with each passing second.

"Briar..." My name falls from his lips like a prayer. "If anything happened to you?—"

I silence him with a kiss.

For a heartbeat, he remains frozen. Then something breaks inside him, and he's pulling me closer, kissing me back with desperate intensity. The castle's magic explodes around us— books flying from their shelves, candles flaring like miniature suns, the very air humming with power.

His hands tangle in my hair as he deepens the kiss, and I can feel the wolf stirring beneath his skin, demanding more. The curse fights against our connection, trying to force him away, but this time he doesn't let it win. Instead, he pulls me impossibly closer, as if he could absorb me into himself.

"Tell me to stop," he growls against my lips. "Tell me this isn't worth the risk."

"I can't…." I wind my arms around his neck, feeling the magic pulse between us like a living thing.

A groan tears from his throat, and suddenly he's lifting me, pressing me back against the nearest wall. The stone should be cold, but it feels warm, almost alive.

Everything feels alive—the magic, the castle, my own skin where it touches his.

His mouth trails down my neck, and I gasp at the sensation of fangs grazing sensitive flesh. The wolf is closer to the surface now, but I'm not afraid. Even as the curse writhes around us, trying to taint this moment, I can feel something else building—something pure and powerful and right.

"The magic," I manage between kisses. "Can you feel it?"

He pulls back just enough to meet my eyes, and the silver in his gaze is brighter than ever. "It's stronger with you. Everything is stronger with you."

The admission seems to cost him something, but before he can retreat behind his walls again, I pull him back to me. This kiss is deeper, slower, filled with all the things we haven't said. His hands slide down my sides, leaving trails of fire in their wake, and I arch into his touch.

The castle trembles around us, magic surging through ancient stones like blood through veins. Books continue to swirl through the air, their pages rustling like wings. Even the shadows seem to dance, responding to the energy that builds between us.

Ronan's hands skim higher, pushing the fabric of my shirt up to my breasts. My breath catches in my throat as his fingers brush the sensitive undersides, thumbs brushing the edges of my lace bra.

"I dreamed of having you…," he murmurs, his voice a low rumble that sends shivers down my spine. His lips follow the path of his fingers, placing soft kisses along my collarbone, down to the valley between my breasts.

My head falls back against the wall, eyes fluttering closed as his mouth closes over my pulse point. His tongue teases the sensitive skin, and I can feel the magic in the air around us responding, a tangible energy that pulls us closer together.

He cups my breasts in his palms, thumbs stroking over the delicate fabric. I can feel his wolf within him, the animalistic nature that demands more. My body arches instinctively into his touch, a silent plea for more.

Ronan's mouth trails lower, his lips and tongue leaving a trail of fire across my skin. His thumbs hook into the straps of my bra, tugging them down slowly until the lace slides off my shoulders, baring me to him.

The air in the room seems to shimmer, thick with magic and desire. I can feel the connection between us, a force that goes beyond the physical, beyond even the supernatural. It's a soul-deep bond that pulls us inexorably closer, as if we're two magnets unable to resist.

He takes one tight peak into his mouth, sucking gently, and I cry out, my fingers tangling in his hair. The sensation shoots straight between my legs, and I'm suddenly aware of how wet I am, how much I need him.

He shifts his attention to my other breast, lavishing it with the same attention, and the coil of tension inside me tightens further. My hips rock against his, seeking friction, but he holds me firmly in place with one hand on my lower back, his body pressing me against the wall.

"Ronan, please," I whisper, not sure what I'm asking for, but knowing I need something more.

He chuckles darkly, his breath hot against my skin. "Not yet, moya lyubov. I want to hear you come undone first."

"Moya—"

"My love…"

His mouth closes over my peak again, his tongue flicking and teasing, and his hand slides down to the waist of my jeans. With one smooth motion, he unbuttons and unzips my pants, slipping his hand inside to find me already wet and ready for him.

His fingers delve deeper, stroking and circling, and I can feel the pleasure building, tightening like a spring inside me. The castle's magic swirls around us, alive with our desire, feeding off it, and strengthening the bond between us.

Ronan's thumb presses against my clit, circling slowly, and I can't hold back the moan that escapes my lips. "That's it, Briar. Let go."

And I do. My body shudders as the pleasure explodes through me, waves of sensation pulsing through every nerve ending. I cry out his name, the sound raw and desperate, echoing in the air around us. My fingers tighten in his hair, anchoring myself to him as I lose myself in the overwhelming bliss.

With each stroke, the intensity builds, sending me spiraling further into ecstasy. I feel my hips pressing against his hand, instinctively seeking more, craving the exquisite friction that keeps me teetering on the edge.

Suddenly, a deep growl rumbles from his chest, resonating against my skin. It’s a sound filled with raw desire, a reflection of his wolf rising to the surface, as if he too is caught in the magic of the moment. His hands never relent, guiding me through the aftershocks, their strength grounding me even as I float higher.

It’s as if our breaths merge, a dance of shared pleasure that transcends all boundaries, melding the human and the beast within him. My world narrows to just us—his growl, my cries, and the pulsing energy that's severing our souls together.

When I finally come down, I'm breathless and boneless, leaning heavily against him. Ronan catches me, lifting me easily into his arms, and I bury my face in his neck, my heart still pounding.

Then, abruptly, Ronan tears himself away. The loss of contact is physical pain, and I reach for him automatically, but he's already across the room. The temperature plummets instantly, frost spreading across the windows in delicate, deadly patterns.

"Return to your room," he says roughly, though his body visibly strains toward mine. "The curse—it's too strong. If I lose control?—"

"That's not what's happening here." I straighten from the wall, noting how the magic follows my movement like a loyal pet. "The curse fights against this because it knows we're stronger together. Look around, Ronan. Really look."

He does, taking in the evidence of our connection. The books settling back onto their shelves, glowing faintly. The candles burning brighter than they have in days. The very air seems clearer, as if our kiss has temporarily lifted some of the darkness that usually clings to these walls.

"It's destroying you," he whispers, and I'm not sure if he's talking to me or himself. "My touch, my curse—it's poison."

"No." I take a step toward him, and the magic surges hopefully. "Your brother's darkness is poison. This—us—this is something else entirely."

For a moment, something vulnerable flashes across his features. The wolf peers out through his eyes, and I can sense its longing—not just for my body, but for the connection I'm offering.

The curse pulses once, violently, making him flinch.

"I can't." The words sound like they're being torn from his throat. "I won't be the one who destroys you."

He turns and strides from the room, leaving me alone with the swirling magic and the echo of his pain. But this time, I don't feel rejected. I feel more certain than ever that I'm right where I need to be.

The library doors swing open silently, inviting me in. Ember—the castle's spirit—seems to understand what I need. As I step inside, the magic flows around me in warm waves, stronger than I've ever felt it. Books shift on their shelves, their spines glowing with an inner light that pulses in time with my heartbeat.

Ancient symbols appear on the walls, shimmering like starlight. They remind me of the markings I saw in my vision of Rurik's ritual, but these feel different—purer somehow. As I watch, they begin to change, forming new patterns that speak of binding magic and breaking curses.

The message is clear: the castle itself is trying to show me the way. Our love isn't weakening the magic—it's transforming it, breaking through the darkness of Rurik's curse with something more powerful.

"I understand," I whisper to the watching shadows. To Ember, to the castle, to whatever force keeps drawing me deeper into this mystery. "And I'm not giving up."