Chapter 73
I felt a tingling sensation in my fingers, and as I attempted to move them, I heard a sharp intake of
breath.
Blinking, I opened my eyes slowly, adjusting to the soft light of the hospital room.
The sterile smell of antiseptic filled the air, and a wave of weakness washed over me.
Before I could gather my thoughts, a warm hand enveloped mine.
“You’re awake,” Branwen’s voice was laced with relief, his eyes soft yet glimmering with exhaustion.
He looked like he hadn’t slept in days. His usually well–groomed hair was messy, and dark circles shadowed his light–colored eyes.
“How long…?” My voice was weak, barely more than a whisper.
“A week,” Branwen said softly, pulling a chair closer to the bed and sitting down.
“You were in a coma for an entire week, Rowena… I mean, Lorelei.” His slip of the tongue didn’t escape me, but I was too weak to react.
“A week?” I echoed, trying to comprehend.
My hand instinctively moved to my chest where the stabbing pain still lingered faintly.
Branwen nodded. “The wound was deep. You lost a lot of blood, and we almost lost you.
But you’re safe now. Your life is no longer in danger.”
I let out a shaky breath, the memories of Lena’s attack flashing vividly in my mind.
“What about Lena?” I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.
Branwen’s expression darkened slightly, a shadow crossing his face. “Lena is on the run,” he said in a calm but serious tone, his voice filled with determination.
“Silas has issued a warrant for her arrest. She’s trying to hide, but she can’t stay out of sight forever.”
He paused for a moment, his sharp eyes meeting mine. “We’ve already found some clues about where she might be.
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Her trail isn’t as cold as she thinks. It’s only a matter of time before we catch up to her,” he
continued, his words steady and confident,
“She can’t escape the consequences of what she’s done, not for long.”
I could see the resolve in Branwen’s face, a mix of duty and personal conviction.
He was clearly determined to see this through, and for a brief moment, I felt reassured by his calm, unwavering focus.
Relief washed over me like a gentle wave, calming my nerves for a moment.
But just as quickly, a new thought crept into my mind, one that had been troubling me even before 1 blacked out. It was a question I couldn’t ignore any longer.
“Branwen,” I said softly, my voice hesitant as I searched his eyes for answers.
The words felt heavy on my tongue, but I had to ask. “What you said… before I passed out,” I paused, gathering the courage to continue. “Was it true? That we’re… mates?”
My heart raced as I waited for his response. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to hear the answer, but I
needed to know.
His expression softened, and the hard edges of his face melted into something gentle.
A faint smile appeared on his lips, barely there but enough to ease some of my tension.
“Yes,” he said, his voice calm and steady, as though he had known this truth all along. “We’re fated mates, Rowena.”
His words hung in the air, simple yet powerful. There was no hesitation, no doubt in his tone.
It was a statement of fact, something he believed with all his heart.
His steady gaze never left mine, and in that moment, I could feel the weight of his sincerity.
I felt my heart skip a beat. Fated mates? That explained the unexplainable pull I’d always felt toward him, the possessiveness, the sadness at the thought of him being with someone else. But it also complicated everything.
“But,” Branwen added quickly, his tone gentle, “you have a choice.
If you don’t feel the same, if you don’t want this bond… I won’t force it on you. You’ve been through enough already.”
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For a moment, I stared at him, my thoughts in turmoil.
Branwen, who had always been by my side, who had protected me, who had given everything to help me with my revenge. Could I truly reject him? Did I even want to?
“I don’t reject you,” I said softly, surprising even myself. “I… I don’t know what the future holds, but I won’t reject you.”
Branwen’s face lit up with a joy I hadn’t seen in a long time.
“You have no idea how happy that makes me,” he said, his voice filled with emotion. “I’ve waited for so long, but I didn’t want to pressure you.”
He reached for my hand, his touch warm and reassuring.
“Rowena,” he said, his tone more serious now, “I want to tag you. If I do, I’ll always know when you’re hurt or in danger. I’ll be able to protect you better.”
