Page 55 of Lycan King’s Claim (Lycan King’s Reign Duet #2)
T he sun cast its golden rays over the lush gardens, illuminating the vibrant flowers and casting dappled shadows on the ground.
Sienna sits on a soft picnic blanket, her eyes following baby Anna as she crawls with newfound curiosity among the grass and autumn leaves.
I can't help but admire Sienna's progress over these last six months; she has fought to regain her mobility and speech through grueling therapy, inch by inch reclaiming the life we were meant to share.
Despite being frustrated once she moved that night, she hasn't given up.
It was one thing for me to command her to move but to regain control of her body is another.
As I watch her, the urge to mark her swells within me, an unquenchable desire that will solidify our bond.
But I hold back, fear gnawing at my heart.
The last time I marked her, it nearly destroyed her.
What if this time was no different? My love for her is a double-edged sword, capable of both healing and hurting in equal measure.
And yet, Sienna never stops trying to close the distance between us, seeking intimacy despite the shadows of our past.
"Anna!" Sienna calls out, her voice laced with concern as our daughter crawls too far from her to grab her quickly. But before either of us can react, Javier appears, scooping up our little one and returning her to the safety of our picnic blanket.
"Thank you, Javier," Sienna says, gratitude shining in her eyes.
"Of course," he replies when I open the mind link up. "Did you find it?" I ask him.
"Yes, you left it in your office on the bookcase," he replies, tossing me a small velvet box as Sienna tries to pry the blades of grass from our daughter's fists she is hellbent on trying to taste.
My heart beats frantically and catches in my throat as I recognize the engagement ring box I'd thought I lost. He smirks then bends down, messing up Anna's curls.
"I leave you both, I will call out when dinner is done," he winks at me before turning to leave.
"Wait, you're not staying? Where are you going?" Sienna asks, a hint of confusion in her voice.
"To give you two some privacy," Javier responds with a sly smile, disappearing into the depths of the garden.
Sienna turns her attention back to Anna, running her fingers through our daughter's soft curls while I fumble with the ring box, trying to keep it hidden from view.
My heart pounds in my chest, a storm of emotions threatening to drown out the songbirds above before becoming the only thing I can hear.
"No, eat the watermelon, not the rind," Sienna coos as I watch her try to convince our daughter the pink mushy stuff tastes better.
"Maybe she is teething, she seems content on eating the rind, and she is drooling so much, aren't you baby girl?" Sienna babbles.
"Show me those gummies," she tells Anna, prying her little lips apart to gaze inside her mouth as she hunts for toothy pegs as she calls them.
Grabbing my wine glass, I gulp it down before pouring another and drinking that too. "Are you okay?" Sienna asks me, handing me a napkin. "You're sweating up a storm, maybe you're catching a cold," she says, her brows furrowing.
"We can catch a cold, right?"
"Catch rabies, that's about it," I blurt out like a fool. Sienna watches me warily, dragging Anna closer like she is worried I am about to turn savage and eat our daughter.
"Perhaps we should pack up and head inside, I can call the doctor for you," she tells me, reaching for the picnic basket.
"Sienna," I begin, my voice barely more than a whisper. She lifts her gaze to meet mine, and at that moment, I know I can no longer hide from the truth, or I may just throw it up with nerves. "I love you more than anything in this world, and I want to spend the rest of our days together."
"You say that like we haven't got many left?" she chuckles. "We have eternity together, Xandros," she laughs.
"Exactly, which is why I want you to marry me?" I tell her and her laughs cut off.
"I want to make sure it is eternity with you at my side and me at yours, Sienna.
How it should have been from the start, I want to know that for the rest of eternity you're mine, only mine," I whisper the last part, afraid she'll one day get annoyed at me and my waning sanity, my possessiveness knows no bounds not when it comes to her, but neither does my love.
Her eyes widen, brimming with tears that seem to shimmer like liquid silver under the sun's gentle touch. After what feels like an eternity, she nods, her voice trembling as she whispers, "Eternity with you by my side sounds like a dream come true. Yes, Xandros. Yes, I will marry you."
My heart soars at her answer, and I can't wait to place the ring on her finger.
But first, I lean in and capture her lips with mine, pouring all my love and passion into the kiss.
Sienna melts against me, her hands tangling in my hair as she returns my passion with equal fervor.
My body hums with desire as I deepen the kiss, unable to get enough of her.
We break the kiss, panting for air, and I take out the ring from its box, holding it up for her to see. "I bought this ring ages ago, hoping for the day when you would agree to be mine forever," I tell her.
Sienna's eyes widen in surprise as she gazes at the beautiful diamond ring in my hand. "It's stunning," she whispers.
"Only half as stunning as you," I say with a grin before slipping the ring onto her finger. It fits perfectly, like it was made for her, just like we were made for each other.