Page 28

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KIERAN

K ieran woke before dawn on Christmas morning, his body instinctively curling around Mallory's sleeping form. The scent of her hair—fresh rain with a hint of ozone that marked her storm magic—filled his senses. A year together, and still every morning felt like a precious gift.

He pressed a kiss to her shoulder and slipped out of bed, careful not to wake her. The Hearthstone needed its daily inspection before he could truly enjoy Christmas with her.

The inn hummed with holiday energy. Kieran moved through the halls with quiet authority, his tiger instincts alert for any problems. Charlotte had outdone herself with the decorations this year—evergreen garlands studded with twinkling lights, red velvet bows, and the massive tree in the lobby topped with their special mosaic DIY star from last Christmas.

"Morning, boss." Amy beamed from behind the front desk, handing him a clipboard. "Everything's on schedule. The Christmas breakfast starts at eight."

"Perfect." Kieran scanned the list, making mental notes. "Any issues with the Johnson family in Room 201?"

"Not since Mallory talked to them yesterday. Whatever she said worked—they haven't complained about the heating once."

Kieran grinned with pride. "She can outmatch even my most demanding guests."

After finishing his rounds, Kieran returned to their suite with two mugs of hot chocolate. He found Mallory sitting cross-legged on the floor by their small Christmas tree, already dressed in a soft blue sweater that matched the winter sky outside.

"Merry Christmas, beautiful." He set the mugs down and pulled her up into his arms, lifting her slightly off the ground with ease.

"Careful, tiger." Mallory's eyes sparkled as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Gone was the woman who had been afraid to feel anything for fear of triggering her powers. Now she channeled her emotions with growing confidence. "I've been practicing something special."

She held out her palm where a tiny, perfect snowflake formed and hovered, glittering with controlled magic.

"Look at you." Pride surged through Kieran. "From hiding in isolation to crafting individual snowflakes in our suite."

"All thanks to you." She closed her hand, the snowflake disappearing. "Amazing what happens when a stubborn tiger refuses no for an answer."

Kieran pulled her close, his voice low and possessive. "Best decision I ever made, chasing after you that day. The Hearthstone has never been more successful."

"Because my decorating skills are superior to yours?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Because you belong here, with me." He brushed his thumb across her cheekbone. "You were brilliant yesterday at the investor meeting. Remember their faces when you demonstrated your controlled weather system for the outdoor gardens?"

Mallory smiled, a touch of her old vulnerability showing through. "It feels good to use my power to create beauty instead of destruction."

"You never destroyed anything that couldn't be rebuilt." Kieran nodded toward the pile of presents under the tree. "Should we?"

"Breakfast duties first." Mallory tapped his chest with one finger. "Charlotte will have our heads if we're late."

"The staff can wait." Kieran caught her hand, bringing it to his lips. "I'm not letting you go anywhere until I've properly celebrated having you in my life for a full year."

"You're impossible." But Mallory's smile told him she wouldn't have it any other way.

Kieran and Mallory settled on their plush carpet, the small Christmas tree casting multicolored shadows across her face. He couldn't help the predatory satisfaction that surged through him as she leaned against his shoulder. A year ago, she had been ready to flee back to isolation for good. Now she was his, completely and utterly.

"Ladies first," he said, pushing a neatly wrapped box toward her.

Mallory's fingers deftly removed the wrapping paper, revealing a first-edition copy of her all-time favorite novel. Her gasp of delight sent warmth curling through his chest.

"How did you find this?" Her eyes widened with genuine surprise. "I've been searching for years!"

"I have my sources." Kieran tapped the side of his nose, enjoying her reaction. "A tiger always hunts down what his mate desires."

She rolled her eyes at his possessive tone but couldn't hide her laughter. That was what he loved most about the new Mallory—she no longer fought to conceal her emotions. Her laughter came freely now, her smile unrestricted.

"Your turn." She pushed a rectangular package into his hands.

Kieran tore through the wrapping with less finesse than she had shown. Inside was a handcrafted leather-bound journal with the inn's logo embossed on the front.

"Open it," Mallory urged.

Inside, she had sketched designs for The Hearthstone's expansion—the outdoor gardens they'd been planning, complete with her annotations about weather-resistant materials and seasonal plantings.

"You've been holding out on me." Kieran traced the detailed drawings with appreciation. "These are remarkable."

"I may have consulted with a few professionals," she admitted, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

They continued exchanging gifts—a new watch for him, cashmere sweaters for her, books they'd mentioned wanting to read, and small tokens that proved how well they had come to know each other's tastes. With each present, Kieran's fingers brushed against the small box in his pocket, his heart rate increasing incrementally.

When the last visible gift had been opened, Mallory began gathering the discarded wrapping paper.

"We should really head out now. Charlotte will be expecting us to make an appearance at breakfast." She started to rise, but Kieran's hand shot out, catching her wrist.

"Not yet." His voice was firm, brooking no arguments. "There's one more."

Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion as she settled back onto the floor beside him. "You're being mysterious."

Kieran reached into his pocket, his fingers closing around the small velvet box.

"Close your eyes," he instructed.

"Demanding," she quipped, but complied.

Kieran's heart hammered now in his chest as he held the velvet box in his outstretched palm. The room suddenly felt too warm, his tiger instincts heightening every sensation—Mallory's gentle breathing, the pine scent of their Christmas tree, the distant sounds of holiday cheer from the inn's lobby.

"Okay, open your eyes," he commanded softly, his voice deeper than usual.

When Mallory's eyes fluttered open, widening at the sight of the small box in his palm, Kieran studied every flicker of emotion that crossed her face. The slight parting of her lips, the catch in her breath, the tears forming in her eyes. He wanted to remember this moment perfectly.

"Kieran..." she whispered.

With deliberate movements, he flipped open the box, revealing the platinum ring with its center diamond surrounded by smaller blue stones that matched her eyes.

"A year ago, you tried to run from me," he said, his blue eyes never leaving hers. "And I decided then that I would never let that happen again." He reached for her left hand, holding it firmly within his. "You were meant to be mine from the moment I first saw you in the lobby of my inn."

A smile spread across her face. "Is this your way of making our fake marriage real?"

"This is my way of finally claiming what I knew should be mine all along." He took the ring from its cushion. "I was a man without direction before you. Running an inn, chasing meaningless things." He shook his head. "Then you stormed in—literally bringing your powerful weather with you—and everything changed."

Mallory's eyes glistened. "I thought I was so cursed."

"You were never cursed. You just hadn't found your true home yet," Kieran said softly, sliding the ring onto her finger with possessive satisfaction. "You and me, here together, we balance each other perfectly." His fingers tightened around hers. "Will you marry me, Mallory?"

A single tear escaped down Mallory's cheek, and above them Kieran noted that a small cloud had formed near their ceiling, sprinkling gentle snowflakes that evaporated before reaching them.

"Yes," she said softly, her fingers closing around his. "Of course, yes."

Kieran pulled her into his arms, and held her close, a rumbling sound of satisfaction emanating from deep within him. "All mine," he murmured against her hair.

"All yours," she agreed, then pulled back slightly. "But if you think this means I'll stop correcting your ridiculous choices for the inn, you're mistaken."

Kieran laughed, lifting her completely off the ground and spinning her once. "I wouldn't want it any other way." He set her down and brushed her cheek. "I love you, Mallory. Every lightning strike and every raindrop."

"And I love you, Kieran. Every growl and every stubborn declaration."

Kieran pulled Mallory closer against him, his fingers threading through her hair as he captured her lips with his. The kiss was fierce and claiming, a physical declaration of everything she meant to him. The diamond ring glittered on her finger—his mark, his promise, his future secured at last. The tiger within him purred with delighted satisfaction, the predatory need to claim his mate finally fulfilled.

"Forever mine now," he breathed against her mouth, tasting the saltiness of her happy tears.

Mallory melted against him, her slender frame fitting perfectly against his larger one. The small cloud above them expanded slightly, dusting them with more delicate snowflakes—a sure sign of her heightened positive emotions. Kieran smiled against her lips. He loved how her storm magic responded to her feelings, especially when those feelings were for him.

"I've wanted to do this since last Christmas," he admitted, pulling back just enough to see her face, but keeping her firmly in his arms. "The first time we exchanged gifts, I knew you were the woman I would marry."

"Yet you waited a whole year." Mallory's eyes sparkled with mischief, snowflakes catching on her eyelashes.

Kieran's thumb traced the curve of her cheek possessively. "I needed you to be absolutely certain." His blue eyes darkened with intensity. "You tried to run once. I wasn't taking that chance again."

"As if I could go anywhere." Her fingers played with the hair at the nape of his neck. "You've made yourself quite impossible to leave, Mr. Striker."

"That was my plan all along." He grinned, lowering his head to nip at her lower lip. "Trap the beautiful, stubborn woman with a fake marriage, make her fall madly in love with me, and then keep her forever."

Mallory laughed, the sound like music to his ears. "Such deviousness from the charming inn owner."

"A clear business strategy." He shrugged one powerful shoulder, drawing her closer until their bodies aligned perfectly again. "Identify what you want, pursue it relentlessly, and claim it completely."

"And am I just another acquisition?" she teased, the tiny sparks in her eyes matching the static electricity that crackled around them.

Kieran swept her completely off her feet in one fluid motion, cradling her against his chest with effortless strength. The snowflakes intensified above them, but neither paid them any attention.

"You are the centerpiece of my entire existence." He spun her around once, delighting in her surprised gasp. "The Hearthstone Inn might be my legacy, but you, Mallory Gale, soon to be Striker, are my life."

Her arms tightened around his neck. "I never thought I'd have this again. After everything..."

"You were always meant to be mine," he said, setting her gently on her feet but maintaining his hold. "Everything led you here, to me."